Chapter 18

Alric escorted Rika up to her room, his arm around her shoulders the entire time, and the other hand holding onto hers tightly. "Are you okay?" Alric asked as they stopped in front of her room, the guard keeping quiet as he waited.

"I..." Rika took a deep breath, remembering the kiss and the slap. "I'm still processing what happened."

"Oh, excuse me." He pulled a handkerchief from his chest pocket and wiped the blood off her cheek.

"I must look like Carrie right now," she mumbled, thinking about the blood-drenched prom scene.

"Carrie, who's that?"

"Never mind." She stared down at the blood covering the front of her dress. I can't believe he did that. "Well, this dress is definitely ruined."

"It is only a dress. I'm more worried about you."

"I think I need to sit down." She motioned toward her room.

"Of course. Keep watch," Alric told the guard. After a bow, the man stayed at his post while Alric and Rika entered her bedroom together. "Please sit." He led her to the couch.

"Thanks," she mumbled, head down and shoulders slouched. Something had to go wrong today, didn't it?

Alric knelt down in front of her, taking her hand. "Should I get Celeste to help you? She's currently assisting with the festivities, but she most certainly saw what happened and would want to be here with you."

"Not yet." Rika shook her head and gripped his hand tighter.

"I'm truly sorry we allowed this to happen."

"Not sure how you're supposed to stop him from making a scene like that... Where in the world was he to be attacked? Was he within the town walls? In the palace somewhere? A hotel?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure. The demons the other day were dealt with, partially by him, so I don't know where that came from. If he's telling the truth, then someone sent the demon after him."

"People can control the demons?"

"None in the kingdom that I know of, but I've heard there are some in Aeuro."

Rika gasped. "Are you telling me someone from his own country sent someone to assassinate him?"

Alric nodded. "That might be the case. Which would mean someone powerful wants him dead."

Geez, I guess they don't like him much, either. To be fair, he helped with the demon in town, so he's not completely horrible.

"I still can't believe you slapped him in front of the massive crowd." Alric couldn't hold back his smirk. "I doubt any other woman would have the guts to do that."

"Oh?" I have a bad feeling about this.

"Considering his reputation, they'd be afraid of being killed for it."

Rika swallowed hard. "He'd do that over a slap?"

"I'm not sure, but I don't think others would like to chance it."

"Well... he had it coming!" She covered her mouth, brows furrowed as she thought about the kiss. Why on the lips?!

"He most definitely did. And I know things ended horribly, but congratulations on passing the saint test in front of hundreds of people."

"Thanks..." Was it only hundreds? Felt like more.

A screen popped up right beside Alric.

'Quest Completed: Ceremonial Debut.'

'Reward: Reputation Up, All Suitors' Affection Up.'

'Special Quest Started.'

Special quest? But it didn't tell me anything! No name, no reward. Insane system!

"And it's a shame our dance was interrupted. I was quite enjoying it." His eyes sparkled as he gazed up at her.

Rika nodded. "Nothing we can do about that. Maybe we should have someone keeping an eye on him..." But I have a feeling that'd be hard to do.

"We did, but last I heard, Kael had lost him." Alric sighed, shaking his head. "I should check on Kael, who will probably be insistent on staying at the palace after the assassination attempt. Despite my position, I can't exactly refuse him."

"Did you tell him no before? Or did he just not ask and was complaining you didn't offer?"

"He didn't ask; he only suggested it. I didn't want him here, though, for obvious reasons."

"There's no chance this was all a show so he could stay here, right?" Rika asked. "I mean, how long would he even stick around? Shouldn't he be headed back since the ceremony is done?"

"I won't know until I talk to him." Alric looked her over once again. He picked up a lock of her hair and ran his thumb over the blood that had rubbed off on her. "It seems you've calmed down, so maybe you should take a shower or a bath to clean up."

"Probably a good idea." Both. One to clean my hair, the other to help me relax.

Alric kissed the back of her hand. "I'll head off then, unless you need me to stay around longer."

"No, I should be fine."

"Once I find Celeste, I can send her up here to help you."

"Maybe it'd be better to give her time at the festival; a little rest time might do her good." I'm not even sure what she does when she's not nearby.

The white rose above his head glowed.

"Knowing her, and how eager she was to be by your side even before the summoning, she'll probably want to be here. That said, I'll let her know she can have the afternoon off if she wants. Don't be afraid to talk to the guard outside if you need something. I'm off to find Kael."

Rika nodded. "Good luck."

"Thanks, I'm going to need it."

"And thanks for helping me."

Alric glanced back and smiled before closing her door behind him.

"Ha..." Rika melted back against her couch. That was crazy. It's probably going to be even crazier if Kael's staying here.

With another deep breath, she took her shoes off, grabbed a few towels and headed into her bathroom. Leaving her dress haphazardly on the floor, she rushed to scrub herself down, making sure to get all the blood, and sat down for a relaxing bath.

Cruel that I can be stuck in an otome, and yet, I still wish I had my games to play as I relaxed in the bath! Or at least a radio for music.

Kael's entrance, covered in blood and dragging a demon behind him, replayed in her mind.

Who the hell does something like that? She swatted at the bubbles in her bath, causing some to splash out of the tub. Oops. Celeste isn't going to be happy about that.

Wanting to do nothing more than sleep, she hopped out of the tub, dried off with a towel, and stared at the bloodied dress on the floor. I forgot to bring clothes with me. She wrapped a towel around herself and left her bathroom.

"There you are."

Rika froze, gripping the top of her towel tightly.

"You were taking so long, I wondered if I'd have to go in there to get you myself."

"Kael..." Rika swallowed hard. He sat on her bed—damp hair, shirt half-open, his bloodied clothes nowhere in sight. "What are you doing here? How are you in here?"

"Tsk, tsk. Haven't I made it clear I can get into any room I want to?" He stalked towards her, eyes narrowed and smirking.

"You better not have hurt the guard." With her right hand, she focused on creating an energy ball.

"Just a nap, though his superiors won't be happy about it."

"You still didn't answer my first question." She stepped away from him.

"Are you going to attack me with that? I'm not certain that's a good idea unless you're looking to cause a war between Thornburg and Aeuro."

"I'm allowed to defend myself." He broke into my room; this is on him.

"Are you sure about that? You're new to all this, so I doubt you know the rules, the stakes, or if you could even take me out with your powers yet. How about we talk amicably instead?"

"While I'm in a towel?"

He chuckled, his smile widening. "You can lose the towel if you want." He reached out towards it.

Rika stepped back. "Ah!" She slipped in the puddle of water that dripped from her hair.

Kael caught her. One arm around her waist as his other hand caught her wrist. The orb flew off and hit the ceiling with a bang.

Pieces of debris by her balcony door fell.

"Now that was dangerous," Kael said, his red eyes peering into hers as he pulled her up to stand.

Too close, too close, too close. Crap. Rika trembled in his arms and tried to pull her wrist free, but he was too strong. I can't even try anything else, or I might lose my towel.

Footsteps thundered towards them.

"Ah, I guess that alerted them." Kael sighed. "And here I thought I'd have more time to woo you."

"Woo me? Is that what you call this?"

"How else am I supposed to get alone time with you? His Highness definitely won't allow it, and neither will any of his dogs."

"Why do you need to woo me anyway? You're not from here. You'll be going back soon, right?"

His mouth quirked up. "Why else does one woo someone? Because they fancy them."

"You mean so you can bring me to your kingdom instead?"

"I would love that, but it'd be a bit desolate for you. Then again, maybe you can help me change it. Oh, I think we're out of time."

Wolfe burst through her door with Ferran right behind him.

"Miss Rika!" Ferran called out to her.

Wolfe drew his sword. "You may be a prince, but you've overstepped too much. Step away from the saint."

"Fine, fine." Kael kissed her forehead before releasing her. "We'll have to chat another time, without these other men around." He sauntered past Wolfe and out the door, the black rose above his head glowing.

Rika's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.

"Saint Rika!" Celeste rushed in and shooed the guys away before approaching her. "Here, I'll help you."

"Thanks, Celeste." Rika reached out to her.