Evening came quickly.
Aven was busy cleaning dishes in the kitchen when a palace servant entered.
"Elara."
She looked up.
"Yes?"
"The king has summoned you."
Aven froze.
"…The king?"
The servant nodded.
"He wishes to see you in his chambers."
Aven stared at him.
"…Why?"
The servant simply shrugged.
"I was only told to bring you."
Aven sighed dramatically.
"Great."
She wiped her hands on a cloth.
"Did he run out of people to annoy today?"
The servant pretended he didn't hear that
.
"I'll escort you."
Aven stepped out of the kitchen.
But when she reached the hallway—
She stopped.
Cassian stood there.
Arms crossed.
Waiting.
Aven groaned.
"Oh come on."
Cassian smirked.
"I've been assigned to escort you."
Aven walked past him.
"I can walk on my own."
Cassian followed beside her.
"Royal order."
Aven rolled her eyes.
"Why does he need a guard just to talk to me?"
Cassian shrugged.
"Maybe he thinks you're dangerous."
Aven snorted.
"He's not wrong."
Cassian chuckled.
They walked down the long palace corridor together.
After a moment, Cassian glanced at her.
"You look nervous."
Aven immediately shook her head.
"I'm not nervous."
Cassian raised an eyebrow.
"You're walking faster."
Aven slowed down instantly.
"…Shut up."
Cassian laughed quietly.
Soon they reached the large doors of the king's chambers.
Cassian stopped walking.
"We're here."
Aven stared at the door.
"…Wonderful."
She turned to Cassian.
"If I don't come out alive…"
Cassian sighed.
"You're not dying."
Aven shrugged.
"You never know."
Cassian pushed the door open.
"Go in."
Aven took a deep breath.
Then stepped inside.
The door closed behind her.
Cassian remained outside, standing guard.
Inside the room—
Rowan stood near the window.
His back turned.
He didn't move.
But he knew she was there.
"…You took your time."
Aven crossed her arms.
"You called?"
Rowan slowly turned to face her.
And the tension between them returned instantly.
Rowan slowly turned around.
His eyes scanned her from head to toe.
"…You look tired."
Aven scoffed.
"Maybe because someone keeps giving me work."
Rowan ignored that.
"I heard you threatened a maid today."
Aven blinked.
"Oh."
She shrugged.
"News travels fast."
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
"You grabbed her collar."
Aven nodded.
"Yes."
Rowan waited.
"…And?"
Aven tilted her head.
"You want a full report?"
Rowan sighed.
"Why did you do it?"
Aven shrugged again.
"She was bothering Merry."
Rowan looked at her for a moment
.
"…You always did that."
Aven frowned.
"Did what?"
"Jump into fights that weren't yours."
Aven crossed her arms tighter.
"They become mine when people act stupid."
Rowan almost smiled.
Almost.
Then he walked closer.
"…You're still the same."
Aven pointed at him immediately.
"And you're still annoying."
Rowan stopped a few steps away.
Silence.
Then Rowan said casually—
"You were flirting with Cassian this morning."
Aven choked.
"I— what?!"
Rowan folded his arms.
"I saw you."
Aven's eyes widened.
"You were spying on me?!"
"I was standing on my balcony."
"That's spying with a better view!"
Rowan tried not to laugh.
"You called him handsome."
Aven covered her face for a second.
"Oh my god."
Then she looked back at him.
"Why do you even care?"
Rowan didn't answer immediately
.
Instead he said calmly—
"…You're my maid."
Aven groaned loudly.
"Stop saying that!"
Rowan smirked slightly.
"It's technically true."
Aven pointed at him.
"You're abusing your royal power."
Rowan leaned a little closer.
"And you're abusing my kitchen."
Aven gasped dramatically.
"That soup was good!"
Rowan shrugged.
"…It was acceptable."
Aven grabbed a cushion from a nearby chair and threw it at him.
Rowan caught it easily.
"…Violence now?"
Aven glared.
"You deserve worse."
For a moment—
They just looked at each other.
And suddenly…
They both started laughing.
A real laugh.
Like before.
Then the laughter slowly faded.
The room grew quiet again.
Rowan spoke more softly now.
"…Why did you come back?"
Aven's smile disappeared.
She looked away.
"…I didn't come back for you."
Rowan's expression shifted slightly.
"I know."
A long pause filled the room.
Then Aven cleared her throat.
"So… was that all, Your Majesty?"
Rowan sighed.
"…Yes."
Aven turned toward the door.
But before leaving, she stopped.
Without looking back, she muttered—
"…You still act like a brat."
Rowan leaned against the table.
"…And you still burn soup."
Aven shook her head and walked out.
Outside the door—
Cassian was still standing there.
Aven looked at him.
"…Your king is annoying."
Cassian smirked.
"I know."
Inside the room—
Rowan stared at the closed door.
Then quietly muttered to himself—
"…She's really back."
Aven walked out of Rowan's chamber.
Cassian looked at her.
"…You survived."
Aven sighed dramatically.
"Barely."
Cassian pushed himself off the wall.
"So?"
Aven crossed her arms.
"So what?"
Cassian tilted his head.
"What did the king want?"
Aven thought for a second.
Then said seriously—
"He accused me of flirting with you."
Cassian froze.
"…What?"
Aven nodded.
"Very serious crime apparently."
Cassian stared at her.
"I—what?!"
Aven started walking down the corridor.
Cassian quickly followed.
"I didn't even do anything!"
Aven shrugged.
"You caught me."
"I caught you because you fell!"
Aven grinned.
"Sounds suspicious."
Cassian groaned.
"You're impossible."
Aven smirked.
"Yet you keep talking to me."
Cassian stopped walking for a second.
"…That's a fair point."
Aven laughed and continued walking.
Cassian shook his head.
"…Strange girl."
The next afternoon…
The palace training yard was full of guards practicing.
Metal clanged.
People shouted instructions.
In the corner of the yard, Cassian stood with his arms crossed while Aven looked around nervously.
"…Why am I here again?" she asked.
Cassian handed her a wooden practice sword.
"Because you said you could take my job."
Aven stared at the sword like it was a snake.
"…I was joking."
Cassian grinned.
"Too late."
Aven held the sword awkwardly.
"This thing is heavy."
"It's wood."
"Exactly. Imagine if it was metal."
Cassian stepped back.
"Alright. First lesson."
He pointed at her stance.
"Stand properly."
Aven adjusted her feet.
"Like this?"
"No."
She moved again.
"…Now?"
"No."
Aven sighed loudly.
"You're very helpful."
Cassian walked behind her and gently pushed her shoulders.
"Straighten your back."
Aven almost lost her balance.
"Hey!"
"Focus."
Cassian stepped back again.
"Now attack."
Aven blinked.
"…Attack you?"
"Yes."
Aven shrugged.
"Alright."
She swung the sword wildly.
Cassian easily blocked it.
"That was terrible."
Aven tried again.
Another wild swing.
Cassian dodged.
"Still terrible."
Aven frowned.
"Stop judging me!"
She rushed forward again.
Cassian stepped aside—
And Aven completely missed, spinning slightly.
Her foot slipped.
"Wait—!"
She fell forward—
And crashed into Cassian.
Both of them stumbled.
Cassian barely kept them from falling.
For a moment they stood very close again.
Aven blinked up at him.
"…This is becoming a habit."
Cassian laughed.
"Your fighting style is very unique."
Aven pushed him away.
"Shut up."
Nearby guards were already laughing.
One of them shouted—
"Captain! She's winning!"
Cassian shook his head.
"Alright, new rule."
Aven crossed her arms.
"What?"
"You stop attacking like a hurricane."
Aven smirked.
"No promises."
Cassian chuckled.
Then he pointed the sword toward her again.
"Ready for round two?"
Aven lifted her sword dramatically.
"Prepare to be defeated, Captain Guard."
Cassian sighed.
"…I've made a terrible decision."
The training yard was loud with clashing practice swords and shouting guards.
Aven lifted her wooden sword again.
"Prepare to be defeated, Captain Guard."
Cassian sighed.
"…I've made a terrible decision."
They started another round.
Aven charged forward again with zero strategy.
Cassian blocked easily.
"Slow down!"
"I am slow!"
"You're attacking like a falling tree!"
Aven swung again.
Cassian stepped closer to correct her stance.
"No—hold the sword like th—"
At that exact moment—
Aven slipped again.
"Wait—!"
She grabbed Cassian's arm to steady herself.
Now they were standing very close.
Cassian tried not to laugh.
"You know, most people learn balance first."
Nearby guards were already snickering.
Just then—
Rowan passed by the training yard with two palace officials.
He stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
Aven and Cassian were standing way too close.
Cassian's hand was on her arm.
Rowan suddenly choked on air.
"—kgh!"
The officials jumped.
"Your Majesty?!"
Rowan waved them off quickly.
"I'm fine."
But his eyes were still locked on the scene.
"…What the hell are they doing?"
He muttered under his breath.
"Why are they even that close?"
In the yard—
Aven finally stepped back.
Cassian laughed.
"You're hopeless."
Aven pointed her sword at him.
"I almost defeated you!"
"You almost defeated gravity."
The guards burst out laughing.
Rowan's eye twitched.
One official cautiously asked,
"Your Majesty… should we continue to the council meeting?"
Rowan didn't answer immediately.
Instead he muttered quietly—
"…Why is he smiling like that?"
The official blinked.
"…Who, Your Majesty?"
Rowan straightened his coat.
"…No one."
He turned away and started walking again.
But after a few steps—
He glanced back one more time.
Cassian was still laughing.
Aven was arguing loudly.
Rowan frowned slightly.
"…Unbelievable."
Then he continued walking.
Meanwhile in the yard—
Aven suddenly felt like someone was watching her.
She turned slightly.
But Rowan was already gone.
"…Weird," she muttered.
Cassian tilted his head.
"What?"
Aven shook it off.
"Nothing."
Then she raised the sword again.
"Round three."
Cassian groaned.
"…This is how I die."