Chapter 123: Quest: Eating Owlbear Sandwiches
The carriage waited in the main courtyard, ready to depart for the city. The horses snorted calmly, and the late morning sun glinted off the golden fittings.
Max leaned against one side, arms crossed, while Moonlight bounced around him in small hops, clearly impatient.
Don was finishing up securing a few trunks in the back, checking every detail with impeccable precision.
"Are we going yet?" Moon asked, crossing her arms.
Max raised an eyebrow.
"Relax, the sandwiches aren’t going anywhere."
Moon looked at him seriously.
"That’s never guaranteed. If anything, I’ll make them disappear."
Max let out a laugh.
Then, the sound of soft footsteps caught his attention.
Max looked up—and froze.
Elanor was walking toward them.
A white dress... as usual. But this time, different. More elegant. More radiant. The fabric shimmered subtly in the light. Her hair was tied up, held in place by her golden tiara. A delicate belt of the same color accentuated her figure with natural grace.
Max... was completely stunned.
"...wow..."
Moon glanced at him—and without hesitation—
THUMP
She punched him in the back.
"Hey!"
Max bent forward slightly.
"That hurt!"
Moon frowned.
"It’s fine that mom is your fiancée..."
She pointed at Elanor.
"...but don’t go drooling all over her in public. Then you complain about Dorian."
Max straightened up quickly, slightly flushed.
"...sorry..." he muttered, adjusting his shirt.
Elanor was already standing in front of them.
"...how do I look?" she asked, with a small smile.
Max swallowed. He adjusted his collar, trying to compose himself.
He looked her in the eyes.
"You look..."
Pause.
"...more beautiful than yesterday."
Elanor blinked.
Max continued, without thinking too much.
"...and I hope less than tomorrow."
Elanor blushed instantly.
Max did too.
"...okay, that sounded weird," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "Sorry, that was kind of inappropriate."
Elanor shook her head softly.
"It wasn’t."
She looked at him with a warm smile.
"Thank you for the compliment."
Moon made a face.
"Ugh..."
From the carriage, Don cleared his throat, barely hiding a smile.
"Are you finished?"
He looked at the three of them.
"The carriage is ready to depart for the Grand City."
Max nodded.
"Yeah, we’re coming."
They got into the carriage.
Moon was the first to jump inside.
Elanor stepped in gracefully, adjusting her dress.
Max was last, taking a seat across from them.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was light. Warm.
Elanor smiled, looking out the window.
"I missed this..."
She looked at them.
"Going out with both of you."
She adjusted her hair.
"I’m happy you’re back."
Moon raised her hand.
"I missed owlbear sandwiches!"
She licked her lips.
"I want to eat at least three!"
Max chuckled.
"You’ve been waiting for that, huh?"
He leaned back slightly.
"Me too."
But his smile... faded just a little.
For a moment, his mind returned to that system window. That mission. Protect Chloe.
’...is she really going to be okay on her own...?’
He glanced at the carriage door. Then outside.
The castle was being left behind. And Chloe... too.
Max frowned slightly.
"...hmm..."
The carriage began to move. Slowly at first. Then it picked up speed.
Leaving the courtyard behind.
Heading toward the Grand City.
***
The carriage came to a stop with a slight jolt.
The city’s bustle surrounded them instantly. Voices, footsteps, merchants shouting deals, the mixed aroma of hot food and spices filling the air.
Don opened the door elegantly.
"We’ve arrived."
Moon was the first to jump out.
"SANDWICHES!"
She ran off without waiting for anyone.
Max stepped down behind her, laughing.
"Hey—don’t get lost!"
Elanor stepped down carefully, holding her dress, looking around with a small smile.
"It’s been a while since I came here..."
Don guided them a few steps further.
An open plaza, with a fountain in the center... and to one side, a wooden stall with a simple sign.
The smell was unmistakable.
Moon was already there.
"...she ordered," Don said calmly, "several."
Max raised an eyebrow.
"Several?"
Moonlight was sitting at a table. Happy. With three sandwiches already gone. And four more in front of her.
Max and Elanor looked at each other.
"Well..."
They sat down. Each grabbed a sandwich. They ate calmly. No rush. Unlike a certain little dragon who was in full destruction mode.
Max took his last bite... and leaned back slightly.
"I really missed this."
Elanor watched him. Then made a small gesture with her hand, pointing at his cheek—stained with a bit of sauce.
Max frowned.
"What?"
He touched his face. The wrong side.
Elanor couldn’t help but laugh.
"Not there."
Max tried the other side. Nothing.
"...where?"
Elanor shook her head gently.
"Stay still."
She took out a handkerchief. White. Delicate. With golden edges and her family’s crest embroidered precisely.
She leaned slightly toward him. And gently... wiped the sauce off his cheek.
Max stayed still.
He swallowed what he had in his mouth.
"...thanks."
He looked at her.
"That was... nice of you."
Elanor smiled faintly.
"I didn’t think about it."
She shrugged elegantly.
"It just... felt natural."
Max let out a small laugh.
She did too.
And then—
"..."
Silence.
They looked to the side.
Moon... was completely still. Leaning back in her chair. The last sandwich... already gone. Defeated.
Elanor blinked.
"...are you okay?"
She looked at her in disbelief.
"I can’t believe someone so small can eat that much."
Max laughed.
"I’m not surprised."
He crossed his arms.
"She burns a lot of energy all the time."
He looked at Moon.
"She needs to refuel."
Moon slowly raised an arm. Flexed her bicep.
"To be strong..."
Dramatic pause.
"...you have to eat and train a lot..."
She let her arm drop again.
Max burst out laughing.
Elanor did too.
And just then, they heard a voice behind them.
"I’ve finished the errands."
Don appeared behind them, as impeccable as ever.
"I believe it’s time to return to the castle."
Moon barely lifted her head.
"Dad..."
She looked at him with half-closed eyes.
"...can you carry me?"
She slumped completely against the chair.
"I can’t move..."
Max sighed... smiling.
"Sure."
He stood up. Picked her up in his arms.
And the moment he did—
"...oof..."
His expression shifted slightly.
"You weigh more than you look."
Moon, half-asleep, murmured:
"It’s all muscle..."
Max started walking. With effort. Step by step.
Elanor walked beside him, amused.
"It was a nice outing."
Max glanced at her.
"Yeah."
He smiled.
"It was."
And then, Elanor leaned slightly toward him. And kissed his cheek. Soft. Quick.
Max froze for half a second. Then smiled.
"...I had a good time too."
They reached the carriage.
Max climbed in carefully and placed Moon on the back seat, completely knocked out. Then he sat down.
Elanor climbed in after him, with the same elegance as always.
Don closed the door.
And the carriage began to move again. The city slowly faded behind them. The noise. The people. The smells. Everything disappeared.
Max rested his arm against the window. Looking outside. Thinking.
’...I’m sure Chloe’s fine...’
Pause.
’...we weren’t gone that long...’
His gaze hardened slightly.
’...or were we...?’