Chapter 10

{Adelinde}: „Father, are you seriously being suspicious of my personal guard? Of course he got hurt after we confronted the Sanctaria Curch."

{Elara}: „Your dear daughters just got home safely from a dangerous ten day trip and all you can do is suspect the person that is responsible for our survival?"

{King}: „This isn't about my daughters. It's about trust. And I indeed am grateful, Leo. Thank you for saving my daughters."

{Leo}: „I am greatly humbled by thy presence and gratitude. And I shall continue protecting them until I die for their sake."

{King}: „You are all dismissed. Over the next few days I'll take my time to hear each of yours' stories."

*Outside*

{Elara}: „Leo, can you jump in as my maid for now? Evelyn died at the incident…"

{Leo}: „Sure, what does your maid usually do for you?"

{Adelinde}: „I'm sure Leo has better things to do. I can't train by myself after all haha."

{Elara}: „I think it's his decision."

{Leo}: „Okay, Adelinde please take some time to rest. I will guide Elara to bed and then proceed to my room to rest aswell. Tomorrow we'll train again. Don't forget!"

{Adelinde}: „Sure! Farewell, Leo, Elara."

{Leo}: „So what do I have to do?"

{Elara}: „Well, take me to my room first. Teehee~"

I take both of Elaras hands and guide her step by step down the hall. It's hard to keep my eyes open as I straddle across, trying to find her room.

Then in an unsuspecting moment, I trip and fall, bringing Elara down with me.

There she lays on my chest. I can feel her heart beating fast but her face is calm. She looks so peaceful like this. Her hair looks sickly, but it smells awfully good. I see her try to utter something, but I fall asleep immediately….

I wake up drenched in sweat and a weight on my body. Everything is dark and I can't see a thing except a small window at the end of the corridor. I try to recollect what had happened, but then I hear peaceful rhythmic breathing. My eyes take a bit to get used to the dark, but eventually I recognize Elaras hair reflecting the small light from the window. My mind starts racing and my heart starts beating. Blood starts to fill my head as I wonder what happened for it to get like this.

Should I wake her up? The sweat is uncomfortable but also kind of warm and homely. I don't want to wake her up just yet. Just a bit longer…

Wait, the hell am I thinking?

*Leo pinches Elaras cheeks in order to get her to wake up*

{Leo}: „You awake?"

{Elara}: *hngh* „Huh? Leo?!"

{Leo}: „Shall I still guide you to your room or…?"

{Elara}: „Ah, I get it. I'm sorry to ask this of you…"

I feel her heart beating now too. Her usual guard is down and she feels like a completely different person. In a fever-like rush almost. Her skin is so pretty but so brittle.

I slowly put my arms under hers and lift her up along with me. Her body is so warm I want to keep close.

I walk her along the hall while holding her hands. After a while of silent walking, we arrive at her room.

Her room is illuminated by the moon and I can see all the cute little furniture and soft bed. It's by far the coziest room in the palace. It's so crammed but with smooth decor and big moody windows.

{Elara}: „Hey Leo, can you see?"

{Leo}: „Yes, barely. The room is illuminated by the moon."

{Elara}: „In the big cabinet, there should be a small drawer at the bottom,… could you… look for a change of clothes for me?"

{Leo): „Right… You need… undergarments, right? I-I think I found some. Here."

Elara takes the undergarments and starts undressing.

{Leo}: „Wait. I can… still see you."

{Elara}: „… Close your eyes, please."

I close my eyes and hear the soft rustling of clothes. All of a sudden she grabs my shoulders to balance herself while undressing. After she finished, she grabs the undergarments from my hands with a shaky hand.

{Elara}: „Leo, why don't you stay for the night? I'd feel sad to fall asleep alone after all of this."

{Leo}: „I'm afraid my clothes are also drenched."

{Elara}: „Then take some fresh ones from my cabinet. I'll allow it."

(in their culture it was usual for womens and mens undergarments to be the same thing)

I start hesitantly undressing without even reconsidering. Her underwear is much softer than mine. I start guiding her toward her bed.

{Leo}: „So like…in the same bed?"

(Elara}: „Yeah…"

{Leo}: „Ok."

My heart races as I lift up the blanket to join her in the big, soft bed. My vision starts blurring as I realize, that I'm no longer tired enough to sleep. We lay in bed silently for a few minutes awkwardly, until…

{Elara}: „Hey, Leo. Are you having trouble sleeping too?"

{Leo}: „Yeah, this is my first time sleeping in another woman's bed."

(Elara}: „This is…my first time too. You made my heart beat so fast, I can't sleep at all like this."

{Leo}: „I think it's better if I go-"

{Elara}: „If you go now, I'll hate you forever~. Can you… hold my hand while we sleep. It calms me down, when I'm close to you."

These are serious flags. Elara is… in love with me. But, isn't this exactly what I wanted? I feel so fulfilled and happy. The cozy bed and Elaras quiet, soothing voice are making me never want to leave. I take her hand and grab it tightly. Her feet touch mine under the blanket and she tilts her head towards mine.

{Leo}: „I won't leave, Elara. I would never."

{Elara}: „What do you… think of me, Leo?"

I'm sure, that this is what I want. I won't regret it ever. To be in the same bed with such a beauty. I should confess my feelings for her and go for the gamble.

This is it, Leo. The moment you have been waiting for back in Eldenhoph.

{Leo}: „I love you, Elara. Do you… feel the same?"

I faintly see a tear flowing down her cheeks as she smiles.

{Elara}: „I've waited for you… to say that. I love you, Leo."

{Leo}: „Haa~ Do you… want to be my partner? I want to stand by your side."

{Elara}: „Yes, I do… Leo."

Elara moves in closer and puts her fingers on my lips. I feel her warm breath on my face. That was when the princess Elara shared a kiss with me. She then curled up in a ball and proceeded to not utter a word for the rest of the night.

Shortly I fall asleep too. I dream of my cold nights and nightly invasions back in Achenheim. Since then my life has been a bundle of surprises and adventure. All the people I've sacrificed to live like this would probably want me to live a good life as well. Their death was a worthy sacrifice at last. My mind rushes back to one of the thieves I captured. The conversation I had with him changed something deep inside me. That was when I truly learned to hate, but right after that I was sent away. Maybe these emotional outbursts like the one at the duel with Leo are a product of my overflowing, fleeting feelings of hate. I'm not supposed to feel this good, this happy. There have been little to no challenges across the way and it's starting to feel off.

It's about time something bad happened.