Chapter 21

Rika finished taking a shower to wash away all the sweat and changed into some fresh clothes, ready to relax.

Knock, knock.

"It's me," Wolfe said from the other side.

Rika opened the door. "Is something wrong? Everything's done for the day, right?"

"Yes, but I'd like to suggest something."

"Oh?"

"Sleep in my room tonight."

Rika's eyes widened, her heart racing. "Excuse me?"

Wolfe held up a hand to stop her from going any further. "Let's trade rooms for the night. I know about the frivolous nighttime visitor, and now that he's staying at the palace, I can only assume he's going to pull that stunt again."

"But he has eyes and ears everywhere. I don't think there's any hiding from him." At least he hasn't hurt me yet. He is one of the suitors, but I've played enough to know they still might kill you...

"If it's only the two of us that know, there's no way it'll get out there. As long as no one sees you go to my room, that is."

"Everyone knows what I look like now, and people might notice me going into your room."

Wolfe held up a cloak.

"Won't that make me stand out more? Like a sign over my head that I shouldn't be here?"

He shrugged. "The palace is mostly empty right now, anyway."

"Wait, where's your room? Is it just on the floor below?"

"I usually sleep in the knights' quarters, but I also have a room just below. I'm not sure the one downstairs is far enough to keep him from finding you, so I figured the one by the knights' quarters, which is also by the kitchen, might be better."

"By the kitchen? Can I use it in the middle of the night?"

Wolfe frowned.

"What? I mean for water or a quick snack. After all of this, I might get hungry."

"It'd be best if you didn't wander the halls at night. And it's not like I can leave a guard outside, or he might figure things out."

"If there's a kitchen nearby, and I can't sleep, I can't guarantee I won't wander into it."

Wolfe sighed, shaking his head. "You're too much sometimes."

Rika smiled widely. "I can't help but be ruled by my stomach. Isn't everyone like that?"

"Not as much as you, glutton." He wrapped the cloak around her, tying it in the front, and took her hand. "Need to bring anything with you?"

"One moment." She rushed over and grabbed Duke.

Wolfe raised an eyebrow, looked at the bear, and smirked. "Whatever helps you sleep, I guess."

"Problem with the bear?" Rika glared up at him.

"Nope, none at all." He took her hand again to lead her to his bedroom.

They made their way downstairs with no one in sight and walked down a few halls with no problem until someone turned a corner.

Acting on instinct, Wolfe pulled Rika with him into the linen closet beside them.

"Oh!" Rika gasped in surprise and clamped her mouth shut. Her heart raced as they waited. This isn't good. She couldn't help but notice his firm arm around her waist, pulling her against his solid body. Her breath caught and stayed there. No movement. None whatsoever. You can survive this, Rika. Don't faint.

"I think we're clear," Wolfe whispered and peeked out of the closet. "Rika?" He looked back at her. "Are you okay?"

"Yup. Ha..." She started breathing again.

"You didn't need to hold your breath."

"I'm sure I did..." Or I might make a sound and blow our cover.

"Whatever." Wolfe frowned and took her hand again. He peeked around the corner and dragged her into his room. "You'll be okay here without a guard, right? You can ask the knights nearby for help if you need to; they're good men."

"But one might be a spy. We don't know."

Wolfe was about to deny it and stopped. "I suppose you're right. Hopefully, you'll remember your training if you need it. I'll be in your room." When he finally let go of her hand, she instantly missed his warmth.

"Be careful," Rika said as he reached for the doorknob.

"You too." Wolfe left.

"Ha..." Rika sighed and flopped back onto Wolfe's bed, hugging Duke as Wolfe's warm, musky scent wrapped around her.

It didn't take long for her to fall asleep. But she didn't stay asleep for long. After a quick nap, she lay awake, arms spread out as she stared at the ceiling light, wondering if it'd be a bad idea to turn it on.

Did I take a power nap or something? I should still be tired. No, I should still be asleep.

She rolled off the bed and peeked around the curtains at the dark sky.

Nope, it really is still nighttime. "What should we do, Duke?" Rika tapped his nose playfully.

Grumble.

"Ugh, not again. Must be because of all that hard work and no extra food. Maybe we should sneak into the kitchen. Don't give me that look!" She poked the bear's belly. "I know he said we should stay here, but I'm hungry, thirsty, and Kael shouldn't be on this side of the castle, anyway."

With Duke in her arms, and her cloak on again with the hood pulled up, she left Wolfe's room.

No one in the hall, good.

She cautiously stuck Duke's head out around the corner before peeking over him herself. "The coast is clear."

With a few quick steps, she slipped into the kitchen.

"Success." She grinned. "Now... what can we eat?" She rummaged through the fridge. "They'd probably get mad if we ate the pre-made stuff, but there are so many yummy looking dishes in here."

At least I can grab a bottle of water.

She picked one up, using Duke to hold it, and reached back into the fridge.

Thump. The door at the other end of the kitchen opened.

Crap. She grabbed the first thing her hand landed on, quickly closed the door, and bolted.

Dammit, dammit, dammit.

"Hello?" She heard someone call out.

No one there. Rika rounded the corner and down the hall, hearing footsteps behind. Stairs? Did I go the wrong way? How did I get lost when it was just around the corner?!

Not wanting to turn back and get caught, she rushed up the stairs, and around the next corner.

Who knows where I am now? Wait, did the footsteps stop? She kept moving.

Thud.

She ran straight into someone.

"Sorry!" Rika bowed in apology. "I wasn't looking where I was going."

"Rika, is that you?"

She looked up at him. The moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating Alric's face. "Alric..."

"What are you doing here?" His eyes trailed down to the bear with the water bottle and the wrapped sandwich in her hand. "Hungry?"

"Yes."

"You could've asked someone for food. We would've brought you some no matter the time."

"I... didn't want to bother anyone. And since I didn't ask, I'm sure someone's going to get in trouble for missing food in the morning." She laughed and stepped away from him.

"And that cloak... Did you have one of those? It looks like Wolfe's—"

"What are you doing up at this hour, Alric?"

He gestured towards the large portrait hanging on the wall beside them of a beautiful woman with long blonde locks, a fancy dress, and a tiara upon her head.

"I was missing my mother..." he trailed off, hanging his head. "It's been... hard since her passing."

Rika's eyes widened. "She's... beautiful."

"Thank you. She would've liked the compliment, coming from a beautiful woman herself."

Her jaw hung open, and she swallowed hard. "T-thanks, but you don't need to flatter me."

"It's not flattery; it's my opinion." He sighed and looked up at the portrait again.

"I doubt anyone's mentioned it, but it's widely known by now that my father fell into a depression after she passed."

Rika's heart wrenched. "He must've truly loved her."

The white rose above his head glowed. "I'm glad you think so. Others have claimed he trapped her here, especially after she was pregnant with me."

"Why would people think that?"

He cast her a sidelong glance. "Because like you, she wasn't from our world, and also like you, she was the saint. They saw her as being above us. Some even thought the only way she would've been with my father is if he forced himself on her."

Rika gasped.

"I promise that never happened. Most of the talk quelled while I was still a child, because they could see how happy they were together, but there are always people who love to spread rumours and try to ruin lives."

Rika nodded. "It's like that everywhere—you can't hide from the petty people."

"With how long he's been bedridden, I'm not sure how much longer he'll last. Soon, I'll be alone."

"Not really alone. Wolfe, Ferran, Celeste, and Dryden are still here for you. I see how close you are."

"I notice you absent from the list."

"Because I'm still hoping to go back home after all of this. But right now... I'm here for you." She handed Duke the sandwich and took his hand, gripping it tightly.

"Thank you." He kissed the back of her hand, the rose over his head glowing steadily as his warm gaze lingered on hers.

A screen popped up.

'Side Quest Completed: Political Intrigue.'

'Reward: Reputation Up, Hope Up, Alric's Route Unlocked.'

Click

Wait, what? That was fast. I wonder if I'm supposed to unlock all the routes or something.

"No thanks necessary."

"Oh, but it is. You don't know how much this means to me." He pulled her closer, stared into her eyes, and his fingers grazed her temple as he brushed a strand of hair back from her face.

Crash.

Something shattered in the distance, and they both froze.