Chapter 25

Rika slowly stirred and reached for the gel pack on her forehead. What's going on?

The image of the screen popping up, telling her she failed, ran through her mind. Oh, right. Wait... She noticed someone beside her, holding her hand, and she braced for the worst.

"Dryden? Why...?" she mumbled and turned onto her side. He feels kinda hot right now. Is he okay? She reached over with her free hand. "Oh!"

He caught her hand. "Rika." He took a deep breath and smiled at her. "You're awake. How are you feeling?" Dryden asked, his voice raspy.

"From the looks of it, better than you."

"Good." He chuckled. "That's part of the aim."

"But... what's going on? Why are you here? Why are you overheating?" She pulled her caught hand away and took the cool pack, placing it on his head instead.

"Oh, that feels nice. Thanks." He relaxed a bit, his breathing finally settling.

"Explanation, please."

"You passed out from magical drain, and I shared some of my magic to lessen the effects on you. I'm still here because I was too tired to move." He laughed. "Or maybe because I didn't want to leave your side, and it gave me an excuse. Are you okay?"

Magical drain? They should've called it MP then, not HP or hope. Why'd they think it was magical drain? Well, if his transfer of magic helped, then maybe that's what it was. "A bit tired, but that's normal for me."

"Back to normal then?"

"So it seems."

Dryden smiled and closed his eyes again. "Good. Hope you don't mind if I stay a bit longer. I'm still tired, and I don't want to leave your side."

How much magic did he give me? "Dryden... are you okay?"

He took a deep breath. "Yup, especially now that I know you're okay. You had me worried for a while there, bunny."

His voice is definitely raspier than normal. How much of a toll is this taking on him? "I'm the saint; I would've recovered eventually. Why'd you go so far?"

He chuckled and ended up coughing. "Is that a real question? Because I care. Because you're important to the kingdom... and to me."

Her heart skipped a beat. No, don't get too attached to him. He's a video game character... I think. And I'll get out of here someday. Despite her thoughts, her grip on his hand tightened.

"You know, this isn't at all how I imagined our first night together." He smiled at her.

"You..." she trailed off, going silent as she blushed all the way up to her ears. "You had to say that, didn't you? Always the playboy..."

"Funny, because I didn't say what I had imagined, but it seems you came up with something all on your own, naughty bunny." He snickered.

"Maybe I should leave you here to rest on your own." She backed away, and he pulled her closer.

"No, please stay. I'll stop teasing you, mostly because I'm barely awake, but I don't want to be apart right now. I'm still not certain you're well or not."

She puffed her cheeks out as she thought. "Fine." She lay back down. "But you better go to sleep."

His breathing slowed as he drifted back to sleep before she even finished speaking.

"Thanks for everything." She kissed his cheek and leaned on his shoulder as she closed her eyes, sinking back to sleep.

"How has it been such a short time since Saint Rika came here, and yet you're already in bed with her?" Celeste huffed, crossing her arms as she stared down at Rika and Dryden on Rika's bed, her cuddled up against him as Celeste came to check on her in the morning. "Ugh, this is why I wasn't let back in last night, wasn't it?"

"Yes," Wolfe replied. "We didn't want to disturb Rika while she rested, and Ferran allowed him to stay."

"Shouldn't that have been Prince Alric's decision?"

"He was busy dealing with Kael, so Ferran was next in line authority wise."

"Not you?"

"Not in this situation."

"And you're okay with this?" Celeste asked.

"..."

"I see."

Wolfe swallowed hard, his eyes not leaving them. "It is not my place to judge."

"Since when?"

"Hmm?" Rika opened her eyes and spotted Celeste and Wolfe's blurry figures.

"Can't you two leave us alone for longer? We're still tired," Dryden grumbled and turned onto his side, his arm reaching over to pull Rika closer by her waist.

"Oh!" Rika gasped. She had just realized she had cuddled right up to him all night, only for him to pull her even closer. And he does this while we have spectators. "Uh, it's probably time to get up if Celeste is here." She tried to pull away, but he groaned and pulled her closer, his grip tight.

"Yes, when I'm here, it's time to get up. Ferran needs to do another check on Rika when he gets here, and if all is well, it's time to learn about making the barrier. It needs to be done sooner rather than later, especially with Kael lingering around, threatening us every time he doesn't get his way. He's like a little—"

"Did someone say my name?" Kael popped up behind them, his arm around Wolfe's shoulders.

Rika shuddered, wondering what he was up to. It's too bad I can't pretend to sleep, and they'd all go away.

"Tch." Wolfe shoved his arm off. "What are you doing here? You should be with His Highness."

"My deal was with Rika, so I should be here. She promised time with me. My, my, what have we here?" Kael purred and raised an eyebrow as he stared down at Rika and Dryden. "I was curious how you've been after your sudden collapse, but you seem fine, cuddled up with your boy-toy. Hmm... It's a big enough bed; why don't I join you?" Kael stepped towards her bed and got dragged back, a large arm around his neck.

"No, you don't. And you shouldn't be moving around without a guard," Wolfe said, resisting the urge to crush his neck.

Please get rid of him, Wolfe. I don't know if he's with me or against me, even though he's one of the suitors.

"Why would I need a guard?" Kael asked. "This kingdom is safe."

"You need a guard to keep an eye on you. To keep people safe from you."

"Oh." Kael laughed. "But wouldn't you have to be the guard then, Wolfie dear? I don't think anyone else could handle me."

"Tch. Stop talking like that." Wolfe tossed him outside the room and stood in the way, arms crossed.

Rika glanced over and couldn't help but smile as Wolfe tossed him around like nothing. Wolfe isn't holding back like I thought he would with Kael.

"Wait, he was with Saint Rika when she collapsed, right?" Celeste walked up behind Wolfe.

"Yes."

"What did you do to Rika?!" Celeste slipped between Wolfe and the doorway to chase after Kael.

Oh crap. I know that tone. Someone should stop her.

Kael pointed at himself with raised eyebrows. "Me? I didn't do anything. She's the one who twisted my arm and brought me to my knees. Oh, it was wonderful until—"

"She suffered from sudden magical drain, and you were the only one there! It had to have been you."

Kael backed away from her and wiggled his finger. "Nope. I didn't do anything."

A hand landed on Kael's shoulder from behind, startling him.

"No, I didn't sense his magical presence," Ferran said, releasing Kael. "It was weird. I didn't sense anyone's magic other than hers, despite the magical drain symptoms. I'm still not certain what happened to Miss Rika. It's like she used her powers in mass, but no one knows how."

If only he knew about the system, but I don't think I should tell him around that. What if this world was actually real, and the system is just the magic that brought us here? Then they'd all be real... Geez. That line of thinking might make me feel even worse.

"Anyway, I came to check on Miss Rika and escort her to my atelier if she is feeling up to it. There have been more demons showing up close to the kingdom, and it is imperative that we get the barrier in place, so we should go to the stone dais afterwards."

"Oh, that sounds like fun. Can I come?" Kael asked, wrapping his arm around Ferran's shoulders. "Maybe I can even help. I have extraordinary magical powers myself."

"Um... I don't think that's a good idea."

What's he up to now? Is he trying to insert himself into Rose Court?

"Why not? It's not like that barrier of yours is a secret, and who knows what we might encounter out there? I know of the dais, and it's not exactly in the kingdom, so it's not all that safe."

"Between Ferran and me, Rika will have all the protection she needs," Wolfe said. "No additional nuisances needed."

"But with me around, I'm bound to be the first target of the demons—"

"How about you all discuss this away from her room, so she can eat in peace?" Celeste suggested, grabbing the cart she had left in the hallway.

Celeste, my saviour.

"Oh, she hasn't eaten yet? I'm sorry." Ferran bowed to her.

"She seems fine, so I'll escort her after breakfast," Wolfe said.

"I'll see you soon."

Wolfe's gaze turned to Kael's. "Get lost before I remove you again."

"No worries. I'll be hanging out with my new buddy, Ferran." Kael laughed and followed Ferran, his arm around his shoulders again.

Wolfe shuddered. "I can't stand him," he muttered, glaring down the hall at Kael's back.

Kael glanced back and winked at him.

"Tch. Crazy bastard."