As the sun began to rise, Cadren stirred awake. Light filtered in through the gaps in the window shutters. He rubbed his eyes and glanced around the messy room, still smelling faintly of sweat and perfume. Next to him, two naked women lay asleep under the sheets — one with blonde hair, the other with red.
Sitting up, the blanket slipped off his chest. He looked at the women, a small smile creeping onto his face. He kissed the blonde on the forehead, then did the same for the redhead. They both started to stir.
The blonde stretched, her sleepy voice breaking the silence, "Mmm, morning already?"
The redhead yawned and ran her fingers through her hair. "Looks like our prince is ready to go," she teased.
Cadren chuckled lightly as he got out of bed, standing tall and bare, before bending down to gather his clothes from the floor. Once dressed, he leaned down to kiss both women again, this time on the lips. Then he took out a small pouch of coins and placed it on the table.
"For your time," he said in a calm voice. "We'll meet again."
After securing his belt and boots, looking neat and self-assured, he took one last look at the two women in bed. Then he opened the door and stepped out, leaving them behind to start his day.
Stepping into the bustling market, Cadren still felt a bit hazy from the night before. Merchants were shouting to sell their wares, and the enticing smell of food wafted through the air. Suddenly, he caught sight of an alluring woman whose figure defied her age, her hips swaying as she walked, drawing Cadren in like a moth to a flame.
Without thinking, he found himself striding after her, quickly closing the gap between them. He reached out, his fingers brushing the fabric on her shoulder, trying to get her to stop. "Didn't think the market had such rare beauty," he remarked.
Startled, the woman turned sharply, her dark eyes flashing with annoyance at his touch. "Unhand me, you brute!" she snapped, trying to pull away from him.
Undeterred, Cadren stepped even closer, their bodies almost touching. His hands slid up her arms, fingers spreading across her soft skin possessively. "Come now, fair lady," he coaxed, "surely someone as enchanting as yourself expects admirers?" She struggled against his grip, but he held firm.
In a desperate attempt, she twisted away from him, but Cadren used her momentum to guide her toward a narrow alleyway between two dilapidated buildings. The shadows enveloped them as he pressed her against the rough wall.
Just as his hands began to explore the enticing curves of her chest, a sharp blade sliced through the air. The keen edge cut into his palms, and he let out a grunt of pain as blood began to well up from the fresh wounds.
Between him and the woman stood a tall, broad-shouldered man with long white hair and piercing red eyes. His sword gleamed menacingly in the light.
Cadren's eyes widened in recognition. "You…" he hissed, his voice trembling with a mix of fury and disbelief. "Drake."
The man didn't say a word, his gaze fixed on Cadren as he spoke softly to the woman, "Go home. You're safe now." She nodded quickly and hurried off.
Guards rushed in, drawn by the noise. The white-haired man didn't resist as they surrounded him, lowering his sword with a calm demeanor, even as they bound his hands.
Cadren glared through his pain, breathing heavily. As the guards led the man away, he whispered under his breath, "The last Drake…"