"Oh, there you are! I've been looking everywhere!"
Lily came running, panting slightly. She shot Roy a sharp glare.
"What's wrong with you? We went through all that trouble to save you and you run off? Was that your plan from the start? To manipulate us?"
"Lily, it's not like that. She—"
"I'm sorry. I had a momentary panic attack. I'm fine now."
Roy answered clearly and calmly, and Mia was left speechless.
What the—why was she suddenly so polite to Lily? She'd been all sass and attitude with me just a moment ago.
"Unbelievable."
Lily shook her head, then her expression hardened again.
"I'm letting this slide because of Lady Mia, but if you pull something like this again, I'll sell you off for real. Understand?"
"Yes, ma'am. I'll behave."
Roy even bowed politely. Clever little fox—already adapting her behavior based on who she's talking to.
"For now, you'll stay in my quarters. I'll find something for you to do."
She didn't even ask Mia's opinion. Mia opened her mouth to protest, but Roy—surprisingly—nodded in agreement without hesitation.
"Would you like to return to the market, or head back to the palace?"
Lily asked.
Mia did want to explore more, but Roy was still visibly shaken… and let's be honest, she didn't have any money, and the more she looked around, the more she'd want things she couldn't buy.
"No, let's go back."
Once they returned to the palace, Lily handed Roy a bath basket and sent her off to wash. Then she helped Mia get ready, changing her into her training uniform and guiding her to sit in front of a mirror.
As she began braiding Mia's slightly grown-out hair from the top of her head, Lily spoke.
"You shouldn't treat the lower servants like that."
"Huh?"
That hit a nerve.
"It's obvious you seem… not weak, but kind. So they think they can take advantage of you. If you're too soft, they'll keep climbing all over you."
She's a servant too—how can she talk like that? And Roy is just a kid!
Mia's surprise must've shown, because Lily pressed on, firmly.
"I understand that customs might have been different where you used to live. But here, social hierarchy is everything. I hope you'll keep that in mind."
She tied a red ribbon at the end of Mia's neatly braided hair and stepped back. Mia stared at her reflection in the mirror. Pretty, yes—but unfamiliar.
"Where's Leca?"
"He's working at the moment. Would you like to see him?"
"Yes."
She hadn't seen him since he stormed out. He'd suffered so much because of her, and she hadn't even had the chance to apologize.
"He's probably busy with the handover of duties… but perhaps try the training grounds."
"Okay!"
Mia dashed off to the training grounds where Leca usually trained.
Under the blazing sun, several men were training—but the one instructing them was someone she didn't recognize.
As Mia hesitated nearby, the man noticed her.
"Can I help you?"
"Um, I'm looking for Leca. Do you know where he is?"
The man looked her up and down.
"And you are?"
"My name is Mia."
She didn't have a title, so there was nothing else she could add.
The man tilted his head as if thinking, then let out a small "ah."
"Oh, you're the new queen candidate. Leca will be here later this evening—he's supposed to relieve me. He's probably with the other knights right now."
So he's busy. I'll have to wait until evening…
Just then—
"Lady Mia…?"
That voice. So familiar. So longed for.
Mia turned toward it—and saw Leca walking toward her.
"Leca!"
"I'm glad to see you safe."
Mia forgot all decorum and ran to him. She wanted to throw her arms around him—but as a queen candidate, she knew there were eyes everywhere. She couldn't cause trouble for him again.
"I heard everything. You suffered so much because of me…"
Leca looked noticeably thinner. But his sharp eyes had grown even more intense, giving him a strangely alluring aura. Where once he resembled a loyal puppy, now he looked more like a solitary panther.
"It's nothing. What matters is that you're safe, Lady Mia."
They stood in silence, simply looking at each other. Mia wanted to reach out and brush his hollowed cheek—but the man from earlier gave a loud, deliberate cough, snapping her back to reality.
"There's so much I want to talk about. When will you be free?"
"I'll be off duty after dinner. I'll come find you then."
"Okay. I'll wait."
Meanwhile, in the royal council chamber—
The king slowly rose from his seat, grimacing from the effort, as he listened to the latest report.
"A third letter from Muria, you say?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. They offer their congratulations on Lady Mia's safe return and would like to discuss the next steps."
The foreign minister bowed his head.
"They're keeping a close eye on us, clearly."
"With the coronation approaching… I suppose they're feeling the pressure."
"Very well. I have no intention of dragging this out either. Prepare to send her off tomorrow. Leca will accompany her."
"Understood."
When evening came, Mia had to work hard to calm her racing heart.
What should she say first? How much did Leca already know?
She found herself fixing her outfit in front of the mirror over and over again.
After all that bluster when she stormed off… now this? Would he think she was flaky or two-faced?
The anxious minutes dragged on. Eventually, Mia fell asleep while waiting.
Knock, knock.
She heard a sound in her sleep. Jolting upright, she rushed to the door.
Leca was standing there—but not in his usual armor. He was dressed casually, comfortably.
"Come in… and about last time—I'm sorry."
"No. I'm the one who gave you reason to misunderstand."
He stepped inside but didn't sit down. He just stood there, somewhat stiffly.
"Why are you standing like that?"
"Are you ready for tomorrow's departure to Muria?"
"I heard about it this afternoon. I've mostly packed..."
"I see. As expected."
And that was it. Silence again.
Mia had thought she had so much to say, but now that he was in front of her, the words just wouldn't come out.
"…Did you meet my father?"
It was Leca who broke the silence this time. Mia blinked, startled.
"How did you know? Yeah, he found me when I was lost in the desert."
"I received a letter. From my father."
"Oh. Please tell him thank you…"
"Of course."
Silence fell again.
Leca looked quietly at her for a long moment, then spoke.
"From now on, I'll be staying by your side. It's been made my official duty. Not just during magic practice, but always. I've been appointed as your personal guard."
"Really?"
"Yes. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to protect you properly. If something like last time happened again, I…"
He trailed off. His expression twisted into something pained.
Seeing him like that made Mia's chest ache. She stepped closer.
"It's me who should apologize. Your father told me everything—it was all a misunderstanding. And…"
She couldn't finish the sentence. She wanted to hug him—but she held herself back. In a kingdom where all royals were mages, public conduct had to be flawless.
Maybe there were secret wards in Leca's room that had hidden them before, but here in her room? She couldn't take that risk. She remembered how Lily had shredded Leca's letter here without a second thought.
Mia fought back the swell of emotion and forced a light tone.
"Oh, right—can I ask you something? I kind of… bought a beastfolk girl today. It was two thousand denarions. Any idea where I could get that?"
"…I'm sorry, what?"
"It's a long story. But yeah. Where could I get that kind of money?"
"…That's… well. I do have that amount. I can lend it to you, if needed."
"Really? Then I'll borrow it, just for now. They said they're coming to collect in the morning."
"What exactly have you gotten yourself into?"
"I'll explain later. Just lend it to me for now."
The next morning.
Mia was getting ready to depart for Muria when someone knocked on the door.
Thinking it was Leca, she responded casually.
"I'm coming~"
"…Lady Mia. It's me. Lily."
Her voice was tense. Curious, Mia opened the door.
Lily was standing outside, holding Roy's hand. Roy kept her head down, saying nothing.
"What is it?"
Mia asked, and Lily replied with a trembling voice.
"They… They're backing out."
"What? Backing out of what?"
"They said they won't sell her to us after all. They won't take any amount, no matter what we offer. They were about to drag her off, but I asked to bring her for a final goodbye."
"…What…"
Roy didn't even look at her. She'd already resigned herself. Mia pulled her into the room, held her by the shoulders, and met her eyes.
"Listen, Roy. There's a saying where I come from—Every cloud has a silver lining."
"…I don't know that saying."
"Well, it means no matter how bad things get, there's always hope. If anything happens, contact me. I'll do everything I can. You're not going to die."
"…How would I contact you?"
Oh—right. Beastfolk can't use magic. Here, both humans and beastfolk were completely magicless. That's why they were the underclass in the first place.
"I'll think of something. For now…"
Her eyes lit up.
She summoned her salamander—the only spirit she could call on. A small flame lizard appeared midair, and Roy recoiled in surprise.
"Salamander. Hide yourself and follow this girl. Protect her. If anything happens, contact me. Got it?"
—Understood.—
The fire-colored lizard flicked its tongue and vanished.
From outside, Lily called urgently:
"Lady Mia! The maids are here!"