THE KEY, THE STONE, AND THE JEALOUS PRINCE

After finishing breakfast, Naru hurried to lead Leyla away from the dining hall, but this time, his actions were… unusually careful. He had always known Leyla was special, but now, finally able to hold her hand and feel her close, he was on the verge of losing all control.

Leyla watched as he leaned in carefully to kiss her forehead.

"Naru, seriously? You kiss me everywhere except on the lips?" she teased.

Naru sighed, completely unaware of how to maintain his composure. "Well… it's not like I haven't tried," he said, looking at her with obvious delight. "But you know, princess, it's not easy being immune to you. I've waited a long time to be here… with you."

Leyla ran a hand through her hair, clearly struggling to hold back laughter, but she couldn't hide the warmth blooming in her chest. Naru truly had a special way of making her nervous—in the best way possible.

"Naru, stop," she said, but the blush on her cheeks betrayed her.

He responded with a sweet, almost boyish smile. "I can't. You're too captivating, princess. And those sarcastic remarks of yours… I like them."

Stay strong, she thought, though she had no idea she was already under his influence.

Naru led her through the hallway, holding her hand as if it was something he couldn't bear to let go of.

As they passed through the grand hall, his mind was already on their next step. "So, Leyla… Since we found that little stone last time, we now know it's actually leading us to the next clue. We just need to be… well… ready for a few more thrilling adventures."

Leyla raised an eyebrow, quickly realizing that nothing he said would ever be just an ordinary conversation. "So, this thing we found—it's not just some random stone?"

"Oh, definitely not. It's a key," Naru said dramatically before flashing a grin. "The stone is the key to the next clue. And now, with it, we have to be prepared to face some truly… special challenges."

Leyla shoved her hands into her pockets and looked at him. "Special challenges? Oh, great, because I really needed more problems," she said, trying to sound relaxed, but deep down, she knew this was going to be yet another 'adventure' far from ordinary.

"Oh, don't worry, princess," he said, squeezing her hand again. "There's nothing we can't handle together. Just promise me you won't try to run away when things get… too exciting."

"Run? Me?" she replied with wide eyes, trying to keep a serious face, but failing as a smirk crept onto her lips. "Naru, you know my survival instincts are top-tier, but I promise nothing."

"I know, princess. I know you'd run, but then you'd always wonder what would've happened if you had stayed," he teased, making her fight back a laugh.

"You're really hard to take seriously," she said. "Seriously."

"And you're the perfect partner for some fun," he countered, clearly pleased. "Come on, let's go. A new adventure awaits. Old clues, new challenges… and maybe… some unexpected encounters. Your favorite."

"I'd like to think you're joking, but in this world…" she started as they headed toward the exit. "I can't take anything for granted anymore."

As Naru and Leyla stepped out of the palace, he was still teasing her about how she'd never escape the excitement that awaited them, when suddenly, from the shadows of the large doors, a figure emerged.

A tall, broad-shouldered man stood there, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that emphasized his muscular build. His long black hair was partly tied back, but there was something wild about it, as if he didn't care to keep it perfectly neat. His dark eyes, brimming with confidence, immediately settled on Leyla.

"Naru!" the man called with a grin, striding toward them.

Naru instantly recognized him, coming to an abrupt stop, tension flickering across his face. He couldn't hide it.

"Akihiro…" Naru muttered, his shoulders visibly stiffening. His tone wasn't exactly friendly.

Akihiro ignored Naru's reaction and immediately focused on Leyla, standing beside him. His gaze swept over her in an instant before settling on her face, where his lips curled into a charming, confident smile.

"You're stunning," Akihiro said, almost too directly. His tone dripped with charm, and his smirk was both knowing and assured.

Leyla shivered involuntarily. Naru, of course, noticed but said nothing. He simply stood there, arms crossed, watching with clear disapproval.

"Uh, thanks," Leyla replied with a polite smile, slightly taken aback by his forward compliment.

Naru could practically feel her stance shifting, and it did not sit well with him.

Akihiro took a step closer, fully directing his attention toward her. "Are you…?" He started to ask, but Naru clenched his teeth, watching as Akihiro's gaze lingered on her. "Aren't you the princess from the human world? I've heard about you. And I must say—beauty like yours is unparalleled."

Leyla stood frozen for a second, but strangely, she felt at ease. There was something about Akihiro's presence that was hard to resist. He knew how to captivate.

Naru growled lowly, breaking his previously composed stance, clearly displeased with his cousin's behavior. "Akihiro, must you always be so… inconsistent?" he said, trying to remain calm, though his eyes betrayed his irritation.

"Relax, Naru," Akihiro said smoothly before turning back to Leyla. "I'd love to get to know you better. How are you adjusting to this world? I know it's a big step, but trust me, you have such an… irresistible energy." His gaze swept over her once more.

Leyla was flattered by the attention, but something about it made her slightly uncomfortable. At the same time, Naru's tension only grew. His hands clenched, but he couldn't resist the urge to put a stop to Akihiro's approach.

"We have to go," Naru said abruptly, gripping Leyla's hand and pulling her toward the exit. "Back off, Akihiro. She's not your type."

Akihiro merely shrugged, completely unfazed by Naru's obvious frustration. "Actually," he mused, eyeing Naru, "you clearly don't understand her. But I must say, jealousy really suits the yokai prince. Maybe I should entertain myself with her… since you seem so busy."

Akihiro knew Naru was always in control, yet he also knew exactly how to push his buttons. And, of course, he was enjoying every second of it.

Leyla turned her head toward Naru, trying to gauge the situation. The expression on his face wasn't one she was used to seeing. And then, deep inside, she realized something—Naru was jealous.

As they walked away, Leyla couldn't resist teasing him. His jealousy was too obvious, and she was going to enjoy every bit of it.

"I think you were really jealous of Akihiro," she mused, watching him stiffen. "You two? A full-on charm battle. I wonder who would win if I hadn't…" She smirked and glanced up at him.

"Don't tease me, Leyla," Naru muttered, clearly still irritated, though his expression betrayed his lingering frustration. "That wasn't jealousy. That was just… protection. I didn't want him to… cross a line."

"Ah, of course," she replied with deliberate sarcasm. "Right. Just protection, nothing more. I'm so lucky to have such a protective prince."

Naru lowered his head, trying to regain his composure, but the faint redness on his cheeks gave him away. He was jealous, and there was no denying it.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop," she said with a grin, then suddenly turned serious. "Let's focus. We can't waste time. We have a clue to follow."

Naru exhaled deeply, nodding. It was time to put teasing aside and get serious. Their journey wasn't over yet—if anything, it was just beginning.