Yander walked in step with the man named June, wary of offending him. How had such a man brought the princess to her knees? In an instant, she readily agreed to go along with his plan. It was highly out of character for her to do so. What did he have over her?

  He stopped and turned to face the man, prepared to assail him with a barrage of questions. June stopped just as he had and looked at him, a question written on his face.

  Just before he could even start, he caught himself and refrained from questioning June. He was a royal knight of Lysia. It wasn’t his place to question those above him.

  However, he was now in an awkward position, having just come to a stop, as if he wanted to say something. So he did the only thing he could think of and bowed. “I wanted to offer you my sincerest gratitude for your assistance in the matter regarding Princess Estrella’s marriage and your alliance against Lord Dumar.”

  He raised his head in time to find a single eyebrow on June’s face quirked up before he bowed too. “You’re welcome. And thank you for your devoted service to Estrella. I do hope you’d continue to serve her well after all this business with Ravengel is dealt with.”

  “I shall.”

  June straightened and continued down the hall. “And who knows? By the end of all this, you may just find yourself married to Estrella.”

  Yander almost stumbled as he followed June. “What?”

  June continued walking but turned to look at him, that same eyebrow quirked up. “Please. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but your relationship with the Princess isn’t much of a secret.”

  He cleared his throat as he caught up with June. “Is that so?”

  June laughed. “Have you not realized that’s all the chambermaids gossip about?”

  He remained as stoic as he could while they walked. “No. The opinions of others are of no matter to me.”

  “But what of their opinion of Estrella? Does that not matter to you?”

  He was about to respond with anger, but caught himself before he did. June was right, and it was something he had brought up with Estrella. But she shared his sentiment. That didn’t mean it sat right with him. Still, he had gone along with her wishes, and now they’re entangled in a web of passion and love, forbidden love.

  He released a sigh. “It does, and you are correct. Perhaps it is time I ended my illicit relationship with Princess Estrella.”

  He was bound to wake sooner or later from the beautiful dream that was his reality.

  However, June’s response was not one he would have expected.

  “Well, I wouldn’t go that far. Just be more mindful of your actions and use a little more discretion.”

  June left him speechless as he continued while they entered Estrella’s quarters. “Besides, that isn’t to say I find what you two are doing appropriate. There’s a saying where I come from. Keep your business and pleasure separate.”

  A chortle escaped his mouth before he reigned himself in. “I understand. We have a similar saying here. Mind yourself, else you end up like the Undead Prince.”

  He chuckled when June’s face contorted with confusion.

  “How are the two sayings related?” June asked.

  His jovial mood evaporated as he stared hard at June. “A scorned lover is truly a terrifying enemy to have.”

  June’s confusion turned contemplative as the door to Estella’s chamber swung open and the woman herself entered.

  Yander turned to face her just in time to catch her as she leaped into his arms. Her lips met his in a passion-filled kiss. His lips instinctively parted for her tongue as the world around him faded. Nothing else mattered as he lost himself in her.

  Then everything came crashing down as he remembered they weren’t alone. He pulled away and tried to speak, but Estrella was ravenous, continuing forward, unaware of June’s presence. After a few more moments of heated kissing, he finally broke away long enough to speak. “Your Highness, we—”

  However, she placed a finger on his lips, silencing him. “Shhh. I need you here and now.”

  She reached around to unlace her dress, but froze when her eyes landed on something, someone, behind him. They widened in shock as he gave her an awkward smile. “I did try to warn you.”

  “Shall I leave so you two can continue?” June asked, stepping around Yander.

  “Blessed be the Divine Mother,” Estrella grumbled as she hopped out of Yander’s arms and unruffled her dress. “Forgive me, June. That was unsightly of me.”

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  “It’s okay. Besides, I’m probably overstaying my welcome at this point.”

  June made for the door, but then paused. “I don’t want to impose, but should I remain in the palace since we’re now engaged, or should I find accommodations within the city?”

  “You shall remain at the palace,” Estrella said before calling for Ramira to take June to the guest quarters.

  Once they were gone, Estrella flopped onto her bed and sighed. She lay there, just staring up at the ceiling. Silence passed between them as Yander contemplated what to do. It was obvious what bothered her. The day had been hectic from the moment it began. So he did the only thing he could do for her. He removed his armor and stored it away before taking off his gloves.

  “On your stomach,” he said as he pulled out a vial of oil.

  She looked at him questioningly until her eyes landed on the vial. A smile spread across her face as she rolled over onto her stomach, pulling one of her plush pillows to rest her head on. He got onto the bed and crawled over to her to straddle her hips before unlacing her dress.

  Once undone, Estrella rose a little to slide the dress down to her waist, exposing her entire upper body. She lay back down as he popped the cork off the vial and lathered his hands in the oil. The scent of cinnamon and rosemary filled the room, quickly joined by Estrella’s moan of pleasure as he kneaded the muscles in her back. He worked out the knots there before moving to her shoulders.

  The touch of her silky smooth skin, lathered up in oil, did little to quell his arousal. His engorged member strained against his trousers, begging to be released. Her heavy breaths and explicit moans also didn’t help. It was nothing more than her way of teasing him.

  Yet, he enjoyed it as much as she did, for it wasn’t just about relieving her stress. It was also foreplay.

  Finished with her shoulders, he scooted down to her feet. He removed her chopines and tossed them aside. Pouring another dollop of oil into his hand, he worked her feet thoroughly before steadily working up her legs.

  The entire time, Estrella struggled to contain her voice as he massaged her. Yet she had the presence of mind to pull her dress up as he worked up her legs. A smile formed on his face as he drew ever closer to his prize.

  Once he reached it, Estrella’s dress was nothing more than fabric bunched together at her waist. She raised her hips slightly, swaying them teasingly at him as she turned to look at him. “Well, Yander, time to claim your princess.”

  A grin formed on his face as he worked to pull his trousers off. “As you command, Your Highness.”

  June raised a spoon filled with a grain reminiscent of rice, an assortment of odd vegetables, and some meat that tasted like beef to his mouth. With a big bite, he savored the dish that Yisha cooked. It was akin to fried rice, but with the flavor of chicken curry. An odd amalgamation, yet still delicious nonetheless.

  His thoughts lingered on the events in Lystrum. They weren’t a primary concern for him. In fact, everything was going according to plan. He had made the first move and pushed Ravengel onto the back foot.

  And with his little stunt with Perrim, he all but forced them into an alliance. He confirmed it to be the case with his Aura Sense. Ravengel had arrived through the hidden teleporter in Garn’s manor, where Perrim and his Inquisitors had fled.

  They currently sat at a table devising a plan to eliminate him. Perfect. He’d let them scheme. Whatever they came up with, he’d be ready, as he made preparations of his own through his other clones.

  Draxxus’s laugh re-centered him back to the present as he took another bite of the meal. Beside him, to his right, sat Keyvarah, enjoying her own plate. Seated across the table from them were Yisha and Draxxus. And to his left, at the end of the table, sat Merriam, who had joined them midway through their meal.

  She and Yisha were engaged in an animated conversation while Draxxus played with his food. A smile fluttered onto his face at the sight, reminding him of simpler times. It had been too long since he last enjoyed a hearty meal at a dinner table.

  His gaze shifted to Keyvarah, who stared at him contemplatively. She smiled shyly before speaking. “What are you thinking about?”

  “Just… thinking about the past.”

  Keyvarah’s smile faltered slightly. “About your family?”

  He mustered a weak smile and nodded before changing the subject. “What about you? Do you want to return home?”

  Her smile completely faded, and her face fell. “No. Why? Do you not want me around?”

  He raised his hands in surrender. “No. Shoot, sorry. Poor choice of words. What I meant was, would you like to see them? It has been two years since you’ve seen them. As for them, they probably think you’re dead.”

  By this time, Merriam and Yisha had stopped their conversation and were listening intently to his and Keyvarah’s.

  “He’s right, you know,” Merriam added. “Lord Oltharin has run himself ragged searching for any clues to your disappearance. Wouldn’t it be best to put his worries to rest?”

  Keyvarah looked from him to Merriam before sighing. “But… I’m a monster now. What if they reject me like Reyah?”

  That piece of information came as a shock to him. He had worked out that Reyah had some abandonment issues, just like Keyvarah. But not where it stemmed from.

  The mere thought of it pissed him off. Reyah’s grandmother, the Grand Matriarch of her family and the Ulthari, was just like him. A progenitor and someone in the Divine Realm. How could she let anyone in her family disavow Reyah as if she were nothing?

  His anger built even more before he suddenly pulled back, smothering it in an instant. It was a normal reaction ?to have to the injustice inflicted upon Reyah. But the rage within him had been unnaturally potent, born from his unwitting love for her. A love that the Dweller had sown within his heart. He wanted nothing more than to grab that Dweller and crush its flame-wreathed eye. But… that was impossible.

  Refocusing on the conversation, he caught the tail end of Merriam’s sentence, despite still registering the entirety of it.

  “—loves you very much. I know that for a fact.”

  “It also can’t hurt to try,” he said, jumping in. “The worst thing you can do is not reach out and lose the opportunity, leaving you with nothing but regret and self-pity.”

  Keyvarah looked at him, conflicted. “But I want to stay with you.”

  He chuckled at that. “Just because we’re going to see your family doesn’t mean you can’t stay with me. It’ll be nothing more than a visit to tell them you are well and where you’ll be staying.”

  From his peripherals, he could see Merriam nodding along to his words. Keyvarah hesitated for a second longer before determination came onto her face, and she nodded. “Alright. I’d like to visit my family.”

  “Great,” he said with a clap of his hands. “But after this meal. I’m still famished.”

  His words drew a laugh from the ladies as they continued eating their dinner.