Chapter 113: The Princess and Her Pet Meet Again
The hallway leading to the princess’s room was silent.
Only the soft echo of Max’s footsteps broke the calm as he walked toward the door at the end of the corridor.
He stopped in front of it.
Then, he turned his head slightly toward a mirror on the wall.
His reflection stared back at him.
"...uh..."
He fixed his hair with both hands. Brushed dust from his shoulders. Adjusted his clothes. Straightened his back.
He tried a smile. Held it. Changed it.
"...no, that’s weird..."
He tried another.
"...worse..."
He sighed and covered his face with one hand.
"...I’m a mess..."
He took a deep breath a couple of times.
"...okay..."
He nodded to himself.
"...that’s it."
He turned around. Walked up to the door. And knocked softly.
knock knock.
It hadn’t even been two seconds before the door opened.
And the first thing Max saw...
Was the light.
The shine of Elanor’s dress, reflecting the brightness coming through the large window behind her.
For a moment...
It felt like she was the one glowing.
Elanor stood there. Hands clasped in front of her body. Looking down, shy.
But her eyes...
Were shining.
She wore a perfectly braided hairstyle, clearly done with care. It was obvious she had spent a long time preparing for this moment.
Max stood still.
"...hi..." he said.
"...hi..." she said.
At the same time. They blinked.
"...are you okay?"
"...are you okay?"
Again, together.
"...yes—"
"...yes—"
They stopped. Looked at each other.
And both laughed.
It was obvious they were nervous.
Elanor took a step forward. And without thinking too much, she hugged him.
Max reacted instantly. Wrapped his arms around her.
Tight.
"...I’m really happy to see you..." he murmured.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
"...it was a long trip..."
He smiled faintly.
"...and there wasn’t a single day I didn’t think about you."
Elanor tightened the hug.
"...my days were very boring without you..."
Her voice was soft.
"...I couldn’t focus on anything..."
She pulled back just enough to look at him.
"...I only thought about what you might be doing..."
Pause.
"...or if you were okay."
Max let out a small laugh.
"...I don’t believe you."
Elanor frowned instantly.
"...hey!"
She gave him a light punch on the chest.
"...I’m serious."
Max looked at her.
And smiled.
"...okay..."
He nodded.
"...then I believe you."
Elanor sighed.
But smiled too.
"I took the day off."
She adjusted a strand of hair.
"...so I could spend time with you."
She looked straight into his eyes.
"I want you to tell me everything about your adventure."
Max scratched the back of his neck.
"...it wasn’t a big deal..."
He shrugged.
"...honestly, it wasn’t that complicated."
He gestured to himself.
"...as you can see, we all came back in one piece."
Elanor looked at him with a small smile.
"...you’re saying that so I won’t worry."
She raised an eyebrow.
"...Sophie told me about the ambushes and the bandits."
Max blinked.
"...what?"
Elanor continued calmly.
"...and about the devil with powerful magic."
Max’s eyes widened slightly.
"...when did she tell you all that?"
Elanor laughed softly.
"She sent me letters every day."
She crossed her arms.
"She kept me updated on everything."
Max stayed silent for a moment.
"...oh..."
He sighed.
"...so you already know the whole story."
Elanor shook her head.
"...maybe..."
She leaned slightly closer to him.
"...but I wanted to hear it from you."
She smiled.
"...I want to know how you experienced it."
Max looked at her for a few seconds.
Then smiled too.
"...well..."
He shrugged.
"...it was good."
Pause.
"...interesting."
Another pause.
"...though yeah, it got complicated a few times."
Elanor nodded, satisfied.
"...I figured."
She turned around, walking a few steps toward the exit. Then glanced over her shoulder.
"...shall we have tea?"
She smiled.
"...by the fountain."
Pause.
"...even if it’s not breakfast time."
Max didn’t hesitate. He smiled.
"Sounds like a great idea."
Elanor walked back toward him. And naturally, took his hand.
Max tensed slightly. And blushed.
Elanor looked at him.
And smiled wider.
"...let’s go."
And together, they left the room.
Heading toward the castle courtyard.
***
The courtyard air was fresh and calm.
The sound of the fountain greeted them as they stepped into the garden.
Elanor didn’t let go of Max’s hand. She walked slowly, guiding him along the stone paths.
"These past few days, I didn’t do much..." she said with a soft smile.
She stopped near a flower bed.
"...I had tea here..."
She pointed toward the fountain in the distance.
"...and watered the plants."
She leaned slightly.
"Look, these grew a lot."
Max stepped closer.
"...oh..."
He looked at the leaves.
"...yeah... they look bigger."
Elanor smiled proudly.
They kept walking.
"...and these too..."
"...and those over there..."
She pointed at them one by one, like they were small achievements.
Max looked at her more than the plants.
Smiling.
Little by little, they reached the fountain.
And along the way, they ran into the others.
Sophie passed first, carrying a tray.
Abby walked the opposite direction, stretching.
Dorian... wandered aimlessly, staring at the sky.
And then—
"—Mom!"
Moon came running. She launched herself straight at Elanor.
Elanor opened her arms instantly.
"—Moon!"
She caught her in a tight hug, lifting her off the ground.
Moon flapped her wings happily.
"I missed you..." said the little dragon.
Elanor laughed softly.
"And I missed you."
She looked her up and down.
"You’ve grown so much."
Moon puffed out her chest.
"I know."
She nodded.
"...everyone’s been saying that."
Elanor set her down gently.
"...do you want to have tea with us?"
Moon looked at Max, asking for permission.
Max met her gaze.
And nodded, smiling.
Moon gave a thumbs up.
"...then yes."
Elanor turned to Sophie.
"...could you prepare some tea for us?"
Sophie nodded.
"...on it."
And left without issue.
Moon spoke again.
"...oh, mom..."
She looked at Elanor.
"Dad promised he’d take me to eat an owlbear sandwich."
Max scratched his head.
"...yeah, but it doesn’t have to be today..."
Elanor smiled.
"That sounds like a great plan."
She looked at both of them.
"...we can go for a walk in the city tomorrow."
Max nodded.
"...then it’s settled, the three of us go together tomorrow."
The three of them reached the fountain and sat down, waiting for the tea.
Moon rested her elbows on the table.
"We fought zombies."
Elanor looked at her, curious.
"...really?"
Moon nodded enthusiastically.
"...I cut them and they kept moving."
She gestured with her hands.
"...I thought I was going to die."
Pause.
"...but dad was there."
She pointed at Max.
"...and he always knew what to do."
Max smiled.
"Don’t exaggerate..."
He ruffled her hair.
"...you did really well too."
Elanor looked at him, surprised.
"That’s true, you always know what to do."
Moon jumped in, excited.
"...the best part was when his whole body caught on fire!"
Max froze.
"...Moon—"
"...to defeat a giant slime!"
Elanor’s eyes widened slightly.
"Sophie told me that in a letter..."
She placed a hand on her chest.
"...but I didn’t believe her."
She looked at him.
"...it must have been incredible."
Max looked away.
"...it wasn’t that much..."
He sighed.
"...although... yeah..."
He shrugged.
"...there were some tough moments."
Moon raised her hand again.
"...and when we got ambushed again!"
Max looked at her.
"...Moon..."
"...he used purple mist and defeated all the bandits by himself. There were like... twenty..."
She frowned.
"...no, thirty."
Max covered his face.
"...I didn’t want her to worry..."
He looked at Elanor.
"...there was no need to tell her those things..."
Moon lowered her head slightly.
"...sorry..."
Pause.
"...but mom has to know how awesome dad is."
Elanor let out a soft laugh.
"She’s right."
Moon smiled again and nodded.
Max sighed.
Then laughed too.
At that moment, Sophie returned with a tray.
"...here you go."
She placed three cups in front of them. Steam rose gently.
And the moment...
Settled.
***
Steam curled softly from the tea as the three of them sat around the table. The fountain murmured in the background, and for a while, everything was calm.
Until footsteps interrupted the scene.
Max looked up.
Don was approaching along the path, with Dorian beside him.
"...sorry to interrupt," said the faun in his usual tone.
Elanor turned her head slightly, curious.
"Is something wrong?"
Don nodded, then looked directly at Max.
"The king wishes to see you as soon as possible."
Pause.
"...he’s quite eager to begin the ritual."
Max blinked.
"...ritual?"
Dorian raised an eyebrow.
"...you know."
He pointed at the cloth bag slung over his shoulder.
"...your special request."
Max narrowed his eyes.
"...you have the horn?"
Dorian tapped the bag lightly.
"Both of them."
He smirked.
"...not an easy souvenir to get."
Max nodded, satisfied.
"Then everything’s ready."
He turned to Elanor.
"Do you mind if I go?"
Elanor shook her head gently.
"Not at all."
She smiled.
"...we have several days ahead of us."
She lowered her gaze for a moment, then looked back at him.
"...if my father is calling you, it must be important."
She placed a hand on Moon’s head.
"...I’ll stay with her for a while."
Moon looked up immediately.
"...huh?"
Elanor smiled.
"...I want to teach you some new wind magic tricks."
Moon’s eyes lit up.
"New tricks? YESS!"
Max and Elanor laughed at the same time.
Dorian crossed his arms.
"That little dragon really is a magic enthusiast."
Max smiled.
"...yeah, I’m not surprised."
Don stepped forward.
"...if everything is ready..."
He turned slightly.
"...please, follow me."
He looked at Max.
"...the king has waited a long time for this moment."
Max nodded.
"I’m coming."
He stood up. Hesitated for a second.
He looked at Elanor... and Moon.
"I’ll be back in a bit."
Moon gave a thumbs up.
"We’ll be here!"
Elanor smiled calmly.
And without another word, Max turned around.
And followed Don and Dorian.
Straight toward the royal hall.