Chapter 37: Emotions
Ethan crossed the castle gates at dusk, when the sun painted the walls in a soft golden hue. The guards stepped aside without even looking directly at him. They weren’t under his direct control, but even without holding an official title, his presence had already become something everyone there recognized.
The princess awaited him at the top of the grand staircase in the main hall. Her hair was immaculate, her deep-toned dress accentuating her curves, and her gaze, for an instant, revealed real emotion. When she began to descend, her steps were slow, almost careful.
"You came back early," she said, her voice low, soft, almost inviting.
"Maybe I wanted to see someone," Ethan replied with a faint smile.
Her empty eyes wavered for a moment, just enough for Ethan to notice the slight warmth that tinged her cheeks. It surprised him, given her usual lack of emotion, but it was an opportunity. Soon she regained her composure, descending the last step and standing close enough for him to catch the subtle, sweet, intoxicating scent of her perfume.
They walked together down the corridors, the gentle sound of their footsteps echoing against the ancient stone walls. Neither spoke right away; there was something comfortable in the silence between them. Ethan noticed how her eyes flickered toward him only in glances, as if trying to see whether he was looking at her.
"So then," she began, her tone calm, "what do you intend to do with what you brought?"
"I’m going to place it in one of your secret rooms," Ethan said. "It’s an altar, but it’s more than just stone and symbols. It’s a bridge."
She stopped in front of a carved wooden door, resting her slender fingers on it. "And this bridge leads where, exactly?"