Chapter 716: Black Mist
The rest of the evening whirled by. Apparently, the emperor himself wanted to see us off in the morning, so Elise’s house was in an uproar. The two servants were busy cleaning the entire manor, while the guard polished his armor.
I slipped away with Fable, finding my room on my own. It wasn’t that Rosarie didn’t offer, but I felt bad pulling her away from her duties. And after how she reacted to me this morning, I couldn’t bear to force her to attend to me.
Fyren took the guest room next to mine, promising to be there if he felt anything strange. I thanked him and opened the door, stepping into my room. A small gasp escaped my lips.
I expected another servant room, but the quarters before me were a full suite with a living room, sleeping space, and a large bathroom. A tile bath was in the corner by a wall mirror, enchanted with mana to warm the water.
The bed was massive, with plush cushions and pure white sheets. A window overlooked the room, letting the red light of the evening bleed through the white curtains. A few large wardrobes sat empty, but we’re devoid of dust. A few streaks on the mantle of a fireplace showed it had been cleaned earlier in the day.
I peeked back into the hallway, but Fyren’s door was already closed. I had the sneaking suspicion his guest room was more like servants’ quarters.
Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I shut the door and made my way to the bed. It sank beneath my weight, softer than it looked. I ran my hand over the sheets, letting out a long sigh. Fable padded over, tilting his head curiously. I smiled and rubbed his head between his horns.
"Sorry, it’s just...I’ve never had a room like this. It’s a little big. Do you think Fyren would switch?"
I lay back on the bed, spreading my arms wide and staring at the ceiling. It didn’t feel real. Any of it. Sometimes, I still felt trapped in one of the countless visions of the Day of Cinders. Any moment I would wake up and be forced to live through this hell again.