Chapter 122: A Very Awkward Breakfast with Chloe and the Princess
The castle courtyard shimmered under the soft morning light. The murmur of the fountain filled the air, blending with the distant singing of birds.
Seated at a stone table, Elanor and Moonlight were having breakfast peacefully.
Or at least... it looked that way.
Moon ate with overwhelming enthusiasm, while Elanor held her teacup with elegance, though her gaze occasionally drifted toward the courtyard entrance.
And then she saw them. In the distance.
Max... and Chloe. Walking together. Talking.
Elanor blinked.
And quickly turned her head the other way, as if she hadn’t seen them.
She took another sip of tea. Far too calmly, or so it seemed.
"I’m telling you, it’s not that hard to learn this language," Chloe was saying, arms crossed as she walked. "It’s got some weird stuff, but some words are similar."
Max nodded.
"Yeah, the basics aren’t impossible."
He glanced at her.
"Alright, try it."
Chloe raised an eyebrow.
"Now?"
"Yeah, say something simple."
Max smiled.
"Say: ’Hello, my name is Chloe.’"
Chloe thought for a few seconds. She frowned.
"Alright... I’ll try..."
She inhaled.
"Hello... Chloe... I... be."
Max stared at her. Then burst out laughing.
"Close, but not bad."
Chloe looked at him, offended.
"What do you mean close?"
"Well, you’re missing... quite a few things."
He shrugged, smiling.
"But the intention is there."
Before Chloe could respond—
"DAD!"
Moon’s voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Hurry up or I’m going to eat everything and not leave you any food!"
Max looked up.
"We’re coming!"
Elanor didn’t react. She kept looking away. As if nothing.
Chloe, on the other hand... did react. She observed the princess. Her posture. Her silence. The way she was ignoring them. And she smiled slightly, recognizing the elf’s jealousy—and enjoying it.
’...ah...’
Without saying anything else, she stepped closer to Max... and grabbed his arm.
"Come on, let’s hurry before the dragon eats everything on the table."
And she started running with him toward the table.
Max tensed instantly.
"—huh?"
He blushed.
"What are you doing?"
But Chloe didn’t answer. She was looking straight ahead. Directly at Elanor. Enjoying every second.
When they reached the table, Moon didn’t even look up. She kept eating like there was no tomorrow.
Max regained his balance.
"...don’t eat that fast," he said, laughing. "You’ll get sick."
Moon replied without stopping.
"I can’t hear you!"
She pointed at her full mouth.
"The food’s going in through my ears!"
Max laughed out loud.
Then he looked at Elanor.
"Good morning."
Elanor replied without looking at him.
"...good morning."
Her tone was low. Dry.
Chloe sat between them. Completely natural.
Max blinked. Looked to one side. Then the other. The atmosphere... was off. He leaned slightly toward Moon and, in a low voice, gestured.
"Is Elanor okay?"
Moon shrugged.
"She was a while ago."
She wiped some food off her face.
"We were laughing about stuff from magic class."
Elanor sighed.
"You know I can hear you, right?"
Max froze for a second. Then let out an awkward laugh.
"...sorry."
He straightened up. Grabbed the teapot. Poured himself some tea. And just as he was about to set it down, Chloe slid her cup forward. Without saying anything. Max hesitated for a second, glancing at Elanor.
"...ah... sure."
He poured for her. But now he could really feel the tension. The silence. Elanor’s sideways glances. The air itself felt tight.
His hand trembled slightly as he poured the tea.
Chloe noticed. And smiled faintly.
"Thanks."
Max nodded, distracted.
He looked at Elanor.
She... looked away.
Silence.
...
Max cleared his throat.
"Uh... Moon."
The little dragon raised her head, mouth still full.
"Yeah?"
"Chloe fought an orc this morning."
Moon froze.
"...what?"
Max nodded.
"It got into her room. And she knocked it out with her bare hands."
Moon’s eyes lit up.
"Seriously?!"
She stood up slightly from her chair.
"That’s amazing!"
She pointed at Chloe.
"I didn’t forget what you said!"
She smiled.
"We’re training together!"
Elanor looked away again.
Chloe, meanwhile... didn’t understand anything they were saying. But she didn’t need to. She looked at the princess. Her posture. Her discomfort. And took a sip of tea. Enjoying the moment.
Silence fell over the table again. Heavy and awkward.
Broken only by the constant sound of Moon eating nonstop.
***
A few more minutes passed in silence. For Max, it felt eternal.
Sitting at that table, with Moon devouring everything in sight and the awkward tension between Chloe and Elanor... his mind wouldn’t stop.
’...the Grand City...’
He remembered suddenly.
He had promised Elanor and Moon they’d go out. Eat something good. Walk around. A peaceful day.
A... family plan.
His eyes shifted slightly toward the princess. Then toward Chloe.
’...but now...’
The quest was still there. Protect her. That message wouldn’t leave his head.
’...should I invite her to come with us...?’
He frowned. No, bad idea. Very bad idea.
’Elanor’s going to hate it.’
He took a deep breath.
’...although...’
He glanced at Chloe. Relaxed. Drinking tea like nothing had happened. Her well-defined muscles on display.
’...I think she can handle herself.’
He remembered the orc. Lying on the floor.
"...yeah..." he muttered to himself.
’I don’t think she needs a babysitter.’
He exhaled slowly.
’Better not say anything...’
Before he made things worse. He straightened in his chair and broke the silence.
"Well..."
Pause.
"...it’s about time we get ready."
All three of them looked at him.
Max smiled slightly.
"We’ve got that outing planned."
Elanor’s face changed completely. As if someone had turned on a light. Her eyes sparkled.
"...that’s right..."
She looked at him. Really looked this time.
"You promised."
She stood up almost immediately.
"Then I’ll go take a quick bath."
She was already thinking out loud.
"And I’ll ask Don to prepare the carriage."
Her tone had completely changed. Light. Cheerful.
Moon raised her hand, still with food in her mouth.
"Me too!"
She pointed at her stomach.
"I need to exercise to burn all this off!"
She grinned.
"So I can eat more owlbear sandwiches!"
Max laughed.
Elanor did too.
The atmosphere... lightened instantly.
Chloe watched the three of them. She understood fragments. Gestures. Tones.
Enough.
’...they fixed it already,’ she thought.
And her smile faded slightly.
’...well... it’s not as fun anymore...’
She sighed softly. Then looked at Max.
"I think I’ll use the day to keep studying."
She lifted the book slightly.
"Yesterday was too much information."
She shrugged.
"I could use some quiet practice."
Max nodded.
"Perfect."
He gave her a small smile.
"Have a good day."
Chloe returned the gesture.
"You too."
She looked at the others. Made a small hand gesture, clumsy but intentional.
"Goodbye... I... go."
Moon tilted her head.
"...I think she said goodbye."
Max laughed.
"Yeah, something like that."
Elanor nodded slightly, calmer now.
Chloe turned around. And left. Calm. Unhurried. With the book under her arm.
Max watched her go for a second. Then stood up.
"Let’s go."
Moon jumped off her chair.
"Yes!"
Elanor was already walking. The three of them left the courtyard.
Heading back inside the castle.
Toward the princess’s room.