"How was your visit?" Emelda smiled, humming softly as she strolled down the shaded path of the courtyard.
Leo blinked, slightly taken aback. "I could've sworn my visit went unnoticed."
The princess paused, then turned with a gentle chuckle. "A tall, hooded man wandering the outskirts of Elyria isn't exactly subtle, you know."
"Maybe that would've worked in Magnitia," Leo said, adjusting the edge of his glove, "but I guess Elyrians have sharper eyes."
Emelda gave him a knowing smirk. "We can spot a foreigner in seconds."
Leo narrowed his eyes. "Still… how you found out is the real mystery." He tilted his head, curiosity creeping into his voice. "You didn't see me yourself. So how did you know?"
The princess raised a brow, her lips quirking mischievously. "I have eyes everywhere, Leo. Spies, watchers, whisperers—take your pick."
"Seriously?" Leo crossed his arms. "Even I know when I'm being followed." He tapped the blue eye beneath his eyepatch with one gloved finger. "We carnivores have a sixth sense for that sort of thing."
As he spoke, he subtly gestured to a bush at the far end of the courtyard.
Emelda squinted into the distance until her eyes settled on a faint figure crouching behind the foliage—a petite elf garbed in white.
"ROSE!"
The maid leapt to her feet in shock, her tiny frame stumbling out from behind the tree. "Y-YOUR HIGHNESS!"
"It seems you've forgotten the road to your chambers!" Emelda snapped, hands on her hips.
The young elf immediately dropped to her knees, forehead to the grass. "Forgive me!"
Emelda let out an exasperated sigh and rubbed her temple. "Get up. But this better be the last time I catch you snooping around."
"Yes, ma'am!" Rose saluted cheerily.
Thud!
"Ow…" she muttered, bumping her head as she tried to retreat with pride.
Leo chuckled under his breath as he and Emelda continued the stroll. Behind them, Rose wandered off aimlessly, completely missing the turn toward the palace.
"So… you were saying?" Emelda asked as they reached the old stone steps outside the hound kennels.
Leo sat beside her. "Only two or three villagers even noticed a stranger had arrived, and I wasn't thinking about my visit when talking to you. Which leaves only one explanation…"
He turned to her with a sly grin. "You were waiting for me."
Emelda laughed aloud, her voice echoing softly in the afternoon air. "You got me. I've been hoping you'd show up."
"Am I really that handsome?" he teased.
"Far from it," she shot back, sticking out her tongue.
"I just wanted to say thank you," she added more seriously. "A big thank you, really. If it weren't for you and your order… I probably wouldn't be here today."
"Don't mention it. You played your part too," Leo said, standing and offering his hand. "Why don't we keep going?"
"Very well," she replied, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear and hiding the blush warming her cheeks.
As they stepped into the hound kennels, a strong musk hit Leo like a wall. He wrinkled his nose, while Emelda barely stifled a giggle.
{I guess you really aren't a dog person.}
"Damn," Leo muttered aloud. "I forgot how unnerving your telepathy can be."
A deep bark echoed from the shadows.
"That one's got spirit," Leo remarked, scanning the rows of cages. The air was thick with tension. Most of the hounds—noble beasts bred for battle—lay low in their cages, their ears pinned back, hair bristling.
They were afraid. Not of him, exactly, but of the darkness they sensed behind his bright azure eye.
Even Emelda flinched slightly, but she quickly recovered. "This charming angel," she said, pointing to the one who dared to bark, "is named Flower."
Click. She opened the gate.
"BARK!"
"Down, girl!" Emelda cooed, laughing as Flower showered her face with slobbery kisses.
"She's a cutie," Leo admitted, kneeling down to pet her—only for the hound to growl.
"Alright, alright," he said, hands raised in surrender. "I'll leave you two alone."
"Don't be jealous," Emelda teased as she scratched behind Flower's ears.
"I could've sworn that mutt stuck out her tongue at me," Leo grumbled as Flower wagged her tail.
Emelda opened the cage again. "Since you two clearly aren't bonding, it's time for you to get some shut-eye."
Flower whimpered and dropped her head with exaggerated sadness.
"Not today, girl," Emelda said, tapping her on the nose. "I have a guest."
Ruff! Flower dashed past her and stood proudly at Leo's side, tail wagging like mad.
Leo blinked. "Oh, now you like me?"
Flower let out a soft whine, the universal language of guilt and charm.
He sighed. "Fine. Truce."
"Only this once," Emelda said with mock severity, watching Flower do a celebratory lap around them before trotting ahead.
Leo chuckled. "Why don't you take her out more often?"
Emelda hesitated. "My mother claims she doesn't want her blood mixing with the 'mutts' roaming the castle."
"There are other hounds?"
She nodded. "Yes. Some of the guards keep pets, and a few strays manage to sneak into the kennels. In fact—"
"Is that one of them?" Leo cut in, pointing at a brown, scruffy hound approaching Flower.
"Flower!" Emelda gasped, grabbing the hem of her dress and sprinting forward. "Stay away from that mongrel!"
Leo snickered, picking up a pebble and tossing it casually toward the dog. A startled yelp followed coupled with the loud footfalls of running.
"Better luck next time" Leo chuckled.
"I guess royals do act like the rest of us," he murmured, watching Emelda scold the white hound like she was her own daughter.