The bathing chamber was filled with the gentle sound of water lapping against the sides of the large wooden tub.

Steam rose in slow, curling tendrils from the surface of the hot water, carrying the faint, soothing scent of medicinal herbs that the castle servants had added.

Brandon sat inside the tub, leaning back against the smooth, curved wood with a long, deeply satisfied sigh.

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his head rest against the rim of the tub.

’Well, today’s dungeon raid was a success.’

A soft breath escaped his lips as he sank a little deeper into the water, ’It felt like a normal dungeon raid I used to do with Naevora.’

The memory brought a quiet wave of nostalgia.

’Damn, I miss teasing Naevora.’

He opened his eyes and stared at the steam rising from the water, watching it curl and dissipate toward the ceiling.

’Feels weird sitting alone in a bathtub like this...’

Because he was used to the weight of one of his wives’ bodies leaning against him.

He shook his head slowly, trying to push the wave of longing aside.

’It’s only temporary,’ he told himself.

As he washed, his thoughts drifted back to the day’s events ’My teamwork with Rheanne is pretty good.’

’But since I am conserving ether, I can’t use my skills. I had to rely on my sword everytime.’

’And because I am just touching Rheanne, I can’t copy her ether skill either.’

’I need to have even more intimate contact with her to copy her powerful skills.’

The image of her flashed in his mind and he smiled wryly ’There is no way she would let me do that with her with our current relationship.’

He can say that he is pretty close to her but still... there is some awkwardness here and there.

She was serious and disciplined and carried herself with the quiet dignity of someone who had learned to stand alone.

’...Forget it.’

He finished bathing, stood up, and dried himself with one of the thick linen towels provided. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

He dressed in the fresh clothes laid out for him and stepped back into the main chamber.

Brandon sat down on the edge of the bed for a moment, running a hand through his damp hair.

His gaze drifted to the food laid out on the small table near the window. The smell was tempting, and as he was about to stand up to eat... he heard a soft noise from outside.

*creak*

Hm?

The balcony door opened quietly, and a figure slipped inside.

Amelia stepped into the room wearing a dark cloak over a simple dress.

She closed the balcony shutters behind her and turned toward him.

Brandon blinked in surprise. "Amelia?"

She looked up at him with a dry, slightly embarrassed smile "Good evening, Sir Kael."

She walked further into the room, "I came here to congratulate you for clearing the dungeon."

"The dungeon will be inactive for a while now. The reports from the scouts already confirm the rift has stabilized. The villagers will be able to return home soon."

Brandon nodded his head, "That’s good to hear."

He paused, then added with a light chuckle "You should seriously stop climbing the walls to sneak into balconies like this."

A faint blush colored her cheeks, but she lifted her chin with a touch of royal dignity, though the effect was somewhat undermined by the obvious embarrassment.

"It’s the only way I can move around without half the castle knowing where I am," she muttered.

"Besides, it’s not like I’m breaking in to steal anything. I just... wanted to thank you properly."

She glanced at the food on the table, then back at him.

"You’re eating alone? Where is Lady Rheanne?"

Brandon shrugged "She went to rest in her own room. I was just about to have something myself."

Amelia hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer with her hands clasped in front of her.

"May I... sit with you for a while? I won’t stay long. I just wanted to talk."

Brandon nodded without hesitation "Sure. Sit down. Want something to eat?"

Amelia shook her head but took the offered seat anyway, "No, thank you. I already ate with my aunt earlier."

She was quiet for a moment, fiddling with the edge of her cloak before speaking again.

"Remember, the hundred guards you defeated yesterday? The captain is still muttering about it. Some of the men are calling you ’the Goddess’s Shadow’ now."

Brandon let out a short laugh "I see."

Amelia’s lips twitched into a small smile looking at his laugh "I heard you are leaving tomorrow."

Eating his food, he gave a nod "Yes. You know there are dungeons and towers appearing everywhere in the world."

"Rheanne has to go everywhere she can to clear them. She can’t stay in one place."

Amelia’s gaze lowered to the table, her fingers tracing the edge of her empty cup.

She gave a slow, understanding nod, "True... Good luck."

The words came out softer than she probably intended, almost like a quiet farewell already forming in her mind.

Brandon noticed the shift in her tone "It’s not forever. We’ll probably come back when the tower or the dungeon awakens again."

Amelia gave a small, forced smile, "I know. It’s just... yesterday night was the first time in a long time I felt like I could breathe. Walking through the markets, listening to the musicians, eating street food without having to hide who I am... it was nice. And now you and the Goddess are leaving."

She looked up at him, "You’re both so free. You go wherever the towers appear. You fight together. You don’t have to ask permission or worry about others. I envy that."

"I know my father means well, but he keeps me so protected that sometimes I feel like I’m suffocating."

She glanced at the balcony door "Yesterday night, when you took me and Aunt Freya out... it was the closest I’ve come to that in years. Thank you again for that. Even if it was only for a few hours."

"And I don’t think... my father will let me out again without you."

Brandon gave her a small, sincere smile "You don’t have to thank me. You deserved it. And the Emperor might loosen the reins if he sees how capable you are and that you can protect yourself."

Amelia let out a soft, doubtful laugh "I hope so. But he’s been like this ever since my mother died. I understand why, but... it still hurts sometimes."

The conversation fell into a gentle silence for a moment.

She stood up slowly, pulling her cloak back over her shoulders.

"I should go before someone notices I’m missing again."

She paused at the balcony door, turning back to him with a shy smile "If... you and Lady Rheanne come back... maybe we can go out again?"

Brandon nodded his head "I would like that."

Amelia gave him one last look before slipping out onto the balcony and disappearing into the night as quietly as she had come.

---

The night air was cool as Amelia carefully climbed down from Brandon’s balcony.

Her heart was still beating a little faster than usual from the conversation because of the strange warmth she felt talking to him.

She slowly lowered herself onto the narrow ledge below, but then her eyes widened in shock.

Rheanne was standing on the balcony of her own adjoining room, only a short distance away.

The goddess stood silently in the moonlight, her long white hair flowing gently in the breeze as she looked directly at Amelia.

Amelia’s gaze trembled in terror ’G-Goddess Rheanne?’

She had been caught sneaking out of a man’s room at night.

The situation looked incredibly compromising, even if nothing improper had happened.

The fact that it was Rheanne who had seen her made it ten times worse because she admires her greatly.

To be caught sneaking like this felt mortifying.

She quickly lowered her gaze, and without a word, she turned and began climbing the wall back toward her own room, moving quickly as she could.

She didn’t dare look back at Rheanne. She just wanted to disappear into her chambers and pretend the entire encounter had never happened.

As Amelia jumped onto her own room’s balcony, Rheanne let out a soft sigh.