Chapter 124: Protector or Voyeur?
The carriage began to slow down. The wheels creaked softly as they rolled over the castle’s stone path.
The main gate was already open.
They had returned.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was calm.
Moonlight was fast asleep, lying across Elanor’s lap, her mouth slightly open, drooling a little, her breathing heavy after her epic battle against the sandwiches.
Elanor gently stroked her hair, smiling.
Max... was not as calm. He stared out the window. Silent. His brow slightly furrowed.
’...I shouldn’t have left her alone...’
The feeling wouldn’t go away. That discomfort. That small knot in his chest.
And then he saw it.
A carriage. Different. Parked off to the side of the road, near the castle’s secondary entrance. Dark. No insignia. No escort.
And in the front seat...
A large man. Hooded. Covered in a black cloak that hid almost his entire body.
Max narrowed his eyes.
’Mmh...’
He couldn’t see his face. But something... didn’t add up. His posture. His size.
’...an orc...?’
The memory of the one from that morning crossed his mind. The blow. The attempted kidnapping.
His hand tensed slightly.
’...I should do something...’
He hesitated.
He looked again at the carriage. The man didn’t move. He just sat there. Still. Watching... or waiting?
Max looked away. Turned his head.
Elanor was there. Smiling. Calm. Stroking Moon as if nothing in the world could ruin that moment. The perfect day. The trip to the Grand City. The laughter. The kiss.
Max exhaled slowly.
’...maybe I’m overthinking it...’
He glanced back out the window for a second. The strange carriage was still there.
But...
’Chloe can take care of herself.’
The image of the knocked-out orc returned to his mind.
’She already proved it.’
He clenched his jaw slightly.
’...if I do something now...’
He looked at Elanor again.
’...I’ll ruin all of this.’
He closed his eyes for a second. And decided to do nothing.
The carriage finally came to a full stop.
"We have arrived," Don announced from outside.
The door opened. The light of the late afternoon filtered in softly.
"Sir Max," the butler continued calmly, "if you don’t mind, I could use your help unloading the crates of meat and vegetables I brought for Bertha."
Max nodded right away, snapping back to reality.
"Yeah, no problem."
He gave a faint smile.
"You won’t even have to put in any effort."
Don raised an eyebrow.
"...oh?"
Max raised his hand to his collar. A faint glow. And out of nowhere, six skeletal knights appeared around him. Armed. Steady. Silent. Awaiting Max’s orders.
Don blinked.
Elanor widened her eyes in surprise.
"...that’s new."
Max shrugged.
"Picked up a few tricks in the demon realm."
He pointed at the crates.
"Take them to the kitchen."
The skeletons obeyed instantly. They lifted the heavy containers as if they weighed nothing... and began marching into the castle.
Don watched them, impressed.
"...that’s... quite useful."
Max smiled.
"See?"
Meanwhile, Elanor looked down.
"...Moon..."
She gently shook her.
"We’re here."
Moon groaned softly. Shifted. Opened one eye.
"...mmm..."
She yawned.
"Already?"
She sat up slightly... and without missing a beat said:
"...I’m hungry again..."
Elanor stared at her. Blinked.
"...that can’t be."
Max burst out laughing.
"Told you."
Moon rubbed her eyes.
"I need energy..." she muttered.
Elanor shook her head with a resigned smile.
"You’re impossible."
They stepped out of the carriage.
The castle air greeted them calmly. Familiar. Safe. Or at least... it seemed that way.
Don took the reins of the horses.
"I’ll take care of the carriage."
Max nodded.
"Thanks."
Elanor adjusted her dress.
Moon walked beside her, still half-asleep.
And together...
The three of them headed inside the castle.
***
Max split off from the group just after they crossed the castle threshold.
"I’m going to check on something for a moment," he said, almost out of habit.
Elanor looked at him.
"...everything okay?"
Max nodded quickly.
"Yeah, yeah. I’ll be right back."
He didn’t wait. Turned around and started walking down the halls. Fast. Steady.
’...I’m overthinking this...’
He ran a hand through his hair.
’She’s probably fine.’
He turned a corner.
’She’s probably reading...’
Another.
’Or practicing the language...’
He sped up.
’Or training... yeah...’
He swallowed.
’...but just in case...’
He finally arrived. The guest room door.
And then, he stopped dead in his tracks.
Something didn’t fit. A black cloak, lying on the floor. Right in front of the door. The same dark shade... as the carriage.
Max frowned.
The door was slightly open. And the light... was on.
’...’
His heart skipped a beat.
’...she was kidnapped...’
He took a breath.
’...or she fought back again...’
His skin prickled.
’...or someone dropped a rag on the way...’
He clenched his jaw and approached the room.
knock knock
He knocked.
Waited.
Silence.
"...Chloe?"
Nothing.
He slowly pushed the door.
Crrr...
It opened. And what he saw didn’t help.
The room was messy. More than usual. The bed unmade. The book... open on the sheets. As if it had been left mid-something.
Max stepped inside. Looked left. Then right.
"...no..."
His breathing picked up.
’...you messed up...’
He clenched his fists.
’...you left her alone...’
He took another step.
’...another mission...’
His gaze hardened.
’...you’re going to fail again...’
"...idiot..." he muttered.
And then, he felt a hand, firm, rest on his shoulder.
Max reacted instantly. He turned. Grabbed the wrist. Ready to defend himself.
But the moment he touched it, he stopped.
It wasn’t rough. Or thick. It was soft. Feminine.
He blinked.
He turned fully, and Chloe was there.
Blue dress. Long. Elegant. Slightly revealing. Her hair down.
And a mischievous smile.
"...what are you doing in my room?" she said, tilting her head.
She crossed her arms.
"Sneaking in now?"
She laughed.
"Are you a voyeur or something?"
Max froze.
"...what?"
Chloe’s smile widened.
"I already told you I don’t mind if you look..."
She shrugged.
"...but at least give me a heads-up before coming in."
Max blushed instantly.
"—No, no, it’s not that!"
He let go of her wrist quickly.
"I thought... I thought you were attacked again."
He pointed at the door.
"It was open, I knocked and you didn’t answer..."
Chloe looked at him in silence for a second. Then laughed again.
"Yeah, sure."
Max frowned.
"I swear!"
Pause.
"...what were you doing outside?"
Chloe turned slightly.
"I went to the bathroom."
Just like that.
Max stood still. Processing.
"...oh."
Then exhaled through his nose. Slightly annoyed.
"Right."
He turned toward the door.
"See you at dinner."
Chloe laughed softly.
"Hey..."
She leaned against the wall.
"Don’t be mad at me."
She smiled.
"I was joking."
Max raised a hand without turning back.
"Yeah, yeah."
He stepped out of the room.
And just outside, Sophie was crouched down, picking up the black cloak from the floor.
"...oh," she said when she saw him.
"I was looking for this."
She shook the fabric lightly.
"I dropped it a while ago."
Max looked at her. Blinked.
"...hey, Sophie."
"Good afternoon, Max."
She stood up with a smile.
Max nodded... and kept walking. Hands in his pockets.
’...’
He exhaled.
’...I’m overreacting...’
He shook his head.
’...definitely...’
He walked down the hallway, heading toward his room.
’...I need a bath...’
He sighed.
’...a long... hot one...’