I woke to dim light filtering through the room, unsure if it was evening already. For a while, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts still sluggish. Eventually, I stretched and let out a long breath.
"…Man. What a day."
When I turned onto my side, the bed beside me was empty. Luno wasn't just not there—she wasn't in the room at all. The side of the bed she had slept on was neat and the covers pulled were back, as if she'd left hours ago.
I frowned, pushing myself up.
Where'd she go?
I pulled on my clothes and stepped out into the hallway to go look for her. The smell of food reached me almost immediately and I followed the aroma to the supper table which had already been set.
Gaylord and Diane were seated, eating quietly, like they'd been there for some time.
Gaylord noticed me first. Without pausing his meal, he said, "You've finally woken up."
That drew Diane's attention. She looked up, met my eyes, and gave a faint, secretive smile.
"Oh. It's you."
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Yeah. I feel rested."
Gaylord set his cutlery down and turned toward me. "Have you finished packing?"
"Well…" I hesitated. "…I wouldn't say finished."
Even that was an overstatement. I hadn't even started.
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I sent you back hours ago to prepare. It's nearly nightfall, and you're telling me you haven't packed?"
"I got a bit… distracted," I said lightly. "I'll take care of it. Won't take long."
He studied me for a moment, then waved me off and returned to his food. "See that you do."
I shifted where I stood. "So… where's Luno?"
"She's most likely to be in her room," Diane said, pausing her meal for the moment.
"She's not eating?"
"She said she wasn't hungry."
"Oh." I paused, then nodded. "I'll go check on her."
As I turned to leave, Diane spoke again. "Don't you want to eat first?"
I shook my head. "I'm not hungry."
And it was true. My stomach felt oddly full, like I couldn't force myself to eat even if I wanted to.
I walked down the hallway and stopped in front of Luno's door. After a brief pause, I knocked. A moment later, her voice came from inside.
"…You can come in."
I stepped inside.
Luno was sprawled across her bed, staring up at the ceiling, her expression hard to read. She looked like she'd been there for a while. When she noticed me, her eyes shifted toward mine, and a faint flush crept across her face.
"Ren."
"I just… came to check up on you," I said.
"Oh."
She looked away again, fixing her gaze on the ceiling.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
She nodded. "I'm fine. It's just…" Her voice trailed off. Her hands moved, resting lightly on her thighs. "…My legs have been shaky since I woke up. Every time I try to stand or walk."
"That'll pass, hopefully." I said. "Just give it some time."
She didn't answer, and the silence stretched between us.
I stood there for a moment longer, then tightened my fingers at my side. It was obvious she didn't want to talk about it—not yet, at least. And honestly, I couldn't blame her. Whatever was going through her head, she was probably still trying to sort it out herself.
Better to give her some space.
I turned toward the door and reached for the handle.
"Ren."
I paused and looked back.
She hesitated before speaking. "Please… don't tell my father about what happened between us."
She turned her face away as she said it. "I don't want him to know."
I held her gaze for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."
I stepped out and closed the door quietly behind me.
I went back to my room and finally got to packing. It didn't take long before I found the empty vial of the fertility brew which now sat at the bedside, completely drained. I stared at it for a moment, then let out a tired sigh and shoved it into the bundle of clothes I'd already folded.
I didn't sleep that night.
By morning, everything was ready. I'd packed what little I owned into a large rectangular cloth, tying the corners together and fastening them to one end of a long stick I'd found outside. It was basic, but it worked. I was checking the knots when the door opened.
Gaylord stepped in, his eyes sweeping over the room—the bed, the floor, the walls. After a moment, he nodded.
"You managed to keep this place neat during your stay."
"I try not to leave a mess where I've slept."
"Good." He turned toward the door. "Everyone's waiting outside. Come."
I hoisted the bundle onto my shoulder and followed him out.
Outside, Diane and Luno stood near the doorway. Luno glanced at me briefly, then looked away again. A little farther off was Felix, dressed in plain clothes instead of his usual priestly robes. Beside him stood Liona, luggage slung over her shoulder. Behind them waited an expensive-looking carriage, polished wood catching the light.
My brow furrowed upon seeing liona with her luggage. Wait… is she coming with me?
I frowned slightly. "Why does Liona have luggage?"
Felix smiled. "She'll be going with you, of course. You didn't expect to travel to the capital alone, did you?"
I thought about it for a second. "Well… makes sense, I guess."
Felix clapped his hands once. "Good. Then, if you would kindly?"
He gestured toward the carriage. Seated at the front was the driver—a scrawny beastkin with sharp features and a look that lingered a bit too long as he sized us up.
I nodded and started toward the carriage, until I heard a voice.
"Ren."
I stopped and turned back.
Luno walked toward me, slow but steady. Then, to my surprise, she leaned in and wrapped her arms around me.
"Be safe out there," she whispered before pulling back almost immediately, giving me space. I didn't say anything—just turned and climbed into the carriage.
As I sat down, I noticed Gaylord handing Liona something—a neatly wrapped parcel, or maybe a letter. She accepted it and climbed inside, sitting across from me.
The carriage door closed with a solid thud.
Through the window, I watched them wave goodbye—first Diane, then Luno, Felix, and even Gaylord.
The carriage started moving, and our journey to the Capital began.
I leaned back and looked at Liona. "That thing Gaylord gave you—what is it?"
She glanced down at it. "A letter. Addressed to the princess. It's our pass to get an audience."
"Mind if I see it?"
She handed it over. I turned it a few times, then tried to open it, only to stop when I felt the seal that kept it closed. I exhaled quietly and handed it back.
So much for peeking,
She tucked it into her bag.
"How far is the capital?" I asked.
"Several days."
"Figures. We'll be stopping along the way, then."
"Mhmm."
She nodded and pulled out a small pouch. Coins clinked softly inside. "This is for food and lodging."
As she held it up, I noticed the driver glance back, his eyes flicking briefly to the pouch.
I didn't say anything.
Liona leaned back, her tone and mood shifting. "Anyways, since we're going to be on our own now," she said, "we might as well help each other with our needs from time to time."
I snorted. "Sounds fair. But it won't be for free."
She pouted. "I'm not paying you to sleep with me."
"Then I won't be doing anything."
Silence settled between us. I turned to the window, watching the scenery slide past as buildings gave way to open roads.
The capital waited ahead.