Chapter 14: Morning Shock Therapy
We arrived in Kalvena, a port city in the Yelvanti Kingdom, just as the sun was beginning to set. After that, Khan brought us to an inn. The sign above the door was painted in curling Zarethi script—the formal, looping letters used to write the Yelvanti language.
As we followed Khan inside, he spoke briefly with one of the inn’s staff. The staff member handed him two keys, presumably for the rooms we’d be staying in tonight. Khan turned back toward Alessio and gave a subtle nod. Alessio returned it with a slight nod of his own, and we headed up to the second floor.
We stopped in front of two rooms, side by side.
"I’ll return tomorrow. You both seem like you could use some rest," Khan said, wearing the same smug smile he’d worn all day.
"Thanks for understanding. My body’s running on fumes after today’s nonstop travel. I swear, my heart’s been pounding in my chest the whole time—like I was expecting Marius to appear around every corner. My body’s drenched in sweat and my clothes feel like old rags. Ugh, what a day."
"Pfft," Khan stifled a laugh, clearly trying not to burst out. "You’re right. Here’s your key, Lady Sonia. Rest well."
He handed me the key with a grin. Just as I reached for it, he suddenly took my hand and kissed the back of it.
Alessio flinched.
"Khan, that’s enough. Don’t push your jokes too far. Get in my room—I need to talk to you for a moment before you leave," Alessio said, his tone just a little sharper than usual, and he gave Khan a glare that hovered somewhere between ’I’m serious’ and... well, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
Not that it mattered — I was too distracted thinking he looked kind of cute when he got all bossy like that.
’Anyway, what a strange man. I thought this was just typical Yelvanti behavior, but judging from Alessio’s reaction... maybe not.’