Chapter 46: The Long Road to Agran

Morning had arrived with all the subtlety of a royal trumpet being fired directly into my skull.

The sky above Inizio was clear, pale blue stretching over the capital while early sunlight spilled across the towers of the castle. The air still carried that coolness mornings liked to pretend would last, even though the sun was already plotting betrayal.

I stood outside the main gate of the royal castle.

And apparently somebody had decided subtle travel was beneath us.

A grand carriage waited nearby.

Not large.

Grand.

There was a difference.

Dark polished wood covered its body, trimmed with gold around the windows and doors. The golden lion of Inizio had been carved into both sides so beautifully that even the transportation had more status than most people I had met on Earth.

Four royal horses waited at the front.

Large.

Powerful.

White.

Their tack carried the same golden insignia, while the knights surrounding them sat on armored mounts of their own.

There were enough escorts to protect a royal delegation.

Not enough to look like an invasion.

Diplomacy had apparently invented the phrase threatening, but politely.

Leyra stood beside me.

She looked every bit the crown princess today.

Her long golden hair had been carefully arranged, though enough remained loose to move gently in the morning breeze. Her clothes were elegant without becoming impractical, meant for travel but still clearly royal.

No one looking at her would imagine she had once spent her nights beating people unconscious beneath an arena.

Princess Leyra.

Elegant.

Graceful.

Delicate.

Definitely not capable of kicking someone's ribs into retirement.

The royal family stood in front of us.

King Viar.

Queen Milfy.

Nemris.

And Zeria.

The six remaining council members watched from farther back near the castle steps.

Lady Dren stood with her hands folded.

Heim looked calm.

Feig was quietly observing everything.

Nalrus looked thoughtful.

Garren had his usual expression, which made him look like peace negotiations were personally inconveniencing him.

Yori stood stiffly, face unreadable enough that I could not tell whether he wanted us to succeed or simply wanted to be present when someone eventually blamed somebody else.

Nobody spoke for a few moments.

The atmosphere was heavier than the weather deserved.

This wasn't simply another trip.

If Leyra and I succeeded, two kingdoms might avoid a war.

If we failed...

Well.

King Viar would probably put on armor before anybody finished announcing it.

He looked directly at me.

"I'm counting on you."

I smiled.

"That sounds like an irresponsible amount of expectation."

His brow lifted.

"But I'll take it."

A faint smile appeared beneath his stern expression.

Viar stepped closer.

"If you secure an agreement, send a raven immediately."

I nodded.

"I will."

"I'll travel to Agran personally for the official signing."

That made sense.

A diplomat could negotiate the terms.

A king had to make the final agreement real.

Viar crossed his arms.

"Once both sides agree to the truce, there should be no unnecessary delay."

"Understood."

Then his expression changed.

Barely.

But I had spent enough time around him to recognize it.

He was imagining swords.

I knew that look.

"If negotiations fail..."

Ah.

Here it comes.

Viar's voice deepened.

"...then I will prepare our armies and march into Agran personally."

There.

His eyes practically lit up.

"I will show them exactly what Inizio is capable of."

Zeria sighed.

Not loudly.

Just enough.

"My king."

Viar paused.

Zeria looked at him.

"Could you at least pretend not to be excited?"

Silence.

I looked at Milfy.

She looked completely unsurprised.

Nemris had the expression of someone who had witnessed this problem her entire life.

Leyra looked down.

Probably hiding a smile.

Viar cleared his throat.

Very dignified.

Very royal.

"That is not what I meant."

I raised an eyebrow.

Zeria did too.

Viar straightened.

"What I meant was..."

He paused.

Clearly manufacturing something peaceful.

"...you should succeed."

I waited.

"For peace."

There we go.

He nodded seriously.

"I value peace."

I laughed.

"Much better."

Viar gave me a look.

I smiled innocently.

Milfy stepped toward Leyra.

The queen's expression softened immediately.

Mother replacing monarch.

"Be careful."

Leyra bowed her head gently.

"I will, Mother."

Milfy reached out and briefly touched her daughter's arm.

No dramatic farewell.

No emotional speech.

Just the small gesture of someone who knew exactly what could happen beyond the kingdom's borders.

Leyra smiled at her.

Milfy returned it.

Then Zeria looked at me.

Her blue eyes carried a strange mix of excitement and concern.

"Take care of yourself."

"I always do."

She narrowed her eyes.

"That is absolutely not true."

"Usually."

"Still not true."

I smiled.

Zeria sighed.

"Agran is very different from Inizio."

"Good."

Her eyebrows rose.

"Good?"

"More sightseeing."

Zeria stared at me for a second.

Then smiled despite herself.

"Agran is beautiful."

"See?"

I spread one hand.

"Already productive."

"You are going there to negotiate with the queen."

"And observe architecture responsibly."

"Caled."

"What? Diplomats need hobbies."

Zeria stepped closer.

Then her hand lifted.

Her fingertips touched my cheek.

Soft.

Affectionate.

I glanced toward Viar.

Then back to her.

"Zeria."

"Hm?"

"The king is standing right there."

She blinked.

"So?"

I stared.

She tilted her head.

"I am not doing anything."

Her mouth slowly curved.

"...and I am definitely not about to do anything."

That smile.

That specific smile.

Crime.

Viar cleared his throat behind her.

Very loudly.

Zeria paused.

Her eyes shifted toward him.

Then she slowly lowered her hand.

Still smiling.

"I was just saying goodbye."

"From a normal distance," Viar said.

Zeria stepped backward.

"Fine."

She looked at me one last time.

Mischievous.

Completely unrepentant.

Then Nemris walked forward.

Armor.

Of course.

Her golden plates reflected the morning sunlight.

Lord Commander again.

No blue dress.

No maid outfit.

No soft embarrassment.

Just the woman soldiers moved around carefully because she could probably command a battlefield by glaring at it.

She stopped in front of me.

Her expression was serious.

"This is the most difficult part of the plan."

I nodded.

"Talking to Firsa."

"Everything surrounding it."

Nemris looked toward Leyra.

Then back to me.

"The journey."

"The factions that may oppose peace."

"People inside Agran."

"And the queen herself."

Nemris's jaw tightened slightly.

"There is very little room for error."

I smiled.

"Comforting."

"I'm serious."

"I know."

Her expression softened.

Barely.

"I'm sorry I won't be there."

That surprised me a little.

Not the fact that she wanted to come.

The apology.

"You don't need to apologize."

"If something happens, I would rather be present."

"I know."

Nemris was protective.

Especially of Leyra.

Especially of Zeria.

And apparently now also of me, though admitting that would probably require paperwork.

I smiled.

"Don't worry."

Her eyes narrowed.

"That usually means I should worry."

"I've got Leyra."

Leyra looked toward me.

A small smile appeared.

Nemris did the same.

Not because she knew her sister's secret.

She didn't.

But she trusted both of us.

"I trust you."

Then her gaze moved toward Leyra.

"And you."

Leyra nodded.

Nemris looked at me again.

"But do not get killed on the road."

I laughed.

"That should be the easiest part."

Nemris's expression became flat.

"You say things like that immediately before something terrible happens."

"Coincidence."

"Repeated coincidence."

"Still counts."

Milfy stepped closer.

Her eyes moved between Leyra and me.

Then stopped on me.

"Farewell for now, Sir Caled."

I bowed.

"Your Majesty."

A knight approached the carriage.

He opened the door.

Leyra entered first.

Naturally.

Princess privilege.

I followed.

The interior looked absurdly comfortable.

Padded seats lined both sides, upholstered in deep red fabric with golden stitching. Small storage compartments had been built beneath the windows. Curtains could be drawn for privacy. A tiny folding table sat against one side.

Leyra took the seat opposite me.

I sat across from her.

The knight closed the door.

Outside, commands were given.

Harnesses shifted.

Hooves struck stone.

Then the carriage began moving.

Slowly at first.

The castle passed outside the window.

I leaned slightly toward the glass.

The royal family remained near the gate.

Viar stood with his arms behind his back.

Milfy beside him.

Nemris still watching.

Zeria waved.

Enthusiastically.

I lifted one hand.

She waved harder.

Then the carriage turned.

The castle disappeared from view.

I leaned back.

Quiet.

For the first time that morning, actually quiet.

Then I noticed Leyra.

She was staring at me.

Not casually.

Meaningfully.

With a small smile.

I stared back.

"What?"

She shook her head.

Nothing.

That made it worse.

"What's with the smile?"

Leyra's smile remained.

"I'm happy."

"That sounds suspicious."

"It shouldn't."

"It does when you say it like that."

She looked toward the window.

Then back.

I leaned forward slightly.

"Happy about what?"

Leyra hesitated.

That got my attention.

She usually answered quickly when she knew what she wanted to say.

Now her fingers lightly touched the fabric of her skirt.

Nervous.

Interesting.

Then she looked directly at me.

"Because..."

She paused.

I waited.

"...for the entire journey..."

Her cheeks slowly began turning pink.

"...you are mine."

I blinked.

Leyra continued, apparently committed now.

"Only mine."

Oh.

That caught me.

Not because it sounded possessive.

Not really.

She knew about the others.

Or at least enough.

This wasn't some claim that I belonged to her forever.

It was simply the realization that for the next several days, no Nemris.

No Zeria.

No royal interruptions.

Just us.

Leyra realized what she had said approximately half a second after saying it.

Her blush deepened.

She looked away.

"That was..."

She cleared her throat softly.

"...quite bold."

I smiled.

She glanced toward me.

I shook my head.

"No."

"No?"

"I liked it."

Leyra's eyes widened slightly.

Then she turned toward the window again.

"Good."

Very dignified.

Very princess.

Very red.

I watched her for another second.

Then looked outside.

The carriage rolled through the capital.

Morning crowds had filled the streets.

Merchants opened stalls.

Workers moved carts.

People stopped when they recognized the royal carriage.

Some bowed.

Some waved.

Children pointed.

The knights surrounding us kept formation.

For a while, I simply watched Inizio pass.

The capital had become familiar.

Not completely.

A city this large could probably hide streets from me for months.

But familiar enough that leaving felt different from arriving.

Eventually the outer walls approached.

The gate opened.

The carriage rolled through.

Then the capital slowly fell behind us.

Road.

Fields.

Scattered houses.

Farmland.

The highway stretched forward.

Hours passed.

The terrain changed gradually.

Fewer buildings.

More trees.

Then forest.

The road narrowed beneath the canopy.

Sunlight flickered between leaves, flashing across the carriage windows whenever branches moved overhead.

I looked toward Leyra.

She had been reading something for a while.

Probably official documents.

Very responsible.

I was doing the equally important job of staring outside.

Eventually boredom won.

"How long is this trip?"

Leyra looked up.

"To Agran's capital?"

"Unless we're taking a detour to another continent."

She smiled.

"If nothing delays us..."

Dangerous phrase.

"...about two weeks."

I stared.

"Two weeks."

"Approximately."

"That is a very long carriage ride."

Leyra closed the document.

Her smile changed.

Mischievous.

Not the innocent royal smile.

The other Leyra.

The one I had met underground.

"I know."

Interesting.

Very interesting.

I leaned back.

Suddenly two weeks felt considerably shorter.

The first day passed without violence.

Which I considered suspicious.

By late afternoon, the forest eventually gave way to another road leading toward a town still well inside Inizio's territory.

The settlement was large enough to have several inns, shops, and a proper guard station.

By sunset, our knights had arranged accommodations.

Not rooms.

The entire inn.

Royal travel had benefits.

Apparently if the crown princess wanted privacy, everyone else simply discovered they had dinner plans elsewhere.

The building was comfortable.

Wooden walls.

Wide common room.

Large fireplace.

Clean tables.

Enough bedrooms upstairs for the escort.

We ate together that evening.

The knights occupied several tables across the room.

Armor had been partially removed.

Weapons remained nearby.

Nobody truly relaxed while protecting the future queen.

Leyra and I had a separate table near one of the windows.

She sat opposite me.

Dinner was simple.

Roasted meat.

Vegetables.

Bread.

Soup.

Nothing fancy.

Honestly, after eating monster eyeball soup with Zeria, normal food felt emotionally supportive.

I watched Leyra eat.

Perfectly.

Of course.

Small bites.

Straight posture.

Controlled movements.

Napkin used elegantly.

Every motion had been trained into her.

Princess behavior.

The knights noticed.

Even when they tried not to.

She knew.

That was the point.

I leaned slightly forward.

Lowered my voice.

"You know your family isn't here."

Leyra looked at me.

"What?"

I gestured lightly toward her.

"You can relax."

"I am relaxed."

"No, you're performing."

Her eyebrows lifted.

"Performing?"

I mimicked her posture.

Straight back.

Tiny imaginary fork.

Delicate expression.

She gave me a look.

I smiled.

"You know exactly what I mean."

Leyra glanced toward the knights.

Several were talking quietly.

None appeared to be listening.

Still.

She lowered her voice.

"They're here."

"Knights."

"Yes."

"So?"

"They serve my family."

"I had gathered."

Leyra sighed.

"If I behave differently around them, rumors could spread."

There it was.

Not fear exactly.

Habit.

She had spent her entire life building one image.

Crown princess.

Gentle.

Elegant.

Intelligent.

Delicate.

Revealing another side meant risking questions.

I leaned back.

"Maybe rumors aren't always bad."

Leyra looked at me.

"That's easy for you to say."

"True."

"People already expect you to be strange."

"Also true."

She took another bite.

I watched her.

Then said, "But seriously."

Leyra stopped.

"I think you should show more of yourself."

Her expression became cautious.

"Which part?"

"Both."

She remained quiet.

I lowered my voice further.

"You don't have to announce the arena."

Absolutely not.

That would explode everything.

"But..."

I nodded toward her.

"I don't think Inizio would suddenly hate its future queen because she isn't fragile."

Leyra's fingers tightened slightly around her utensil.

"You don't know that."

"No."

I admitted it immediately.

That made her look up.

"But I know what I'd think."

"And what is that?"

I smiled.

"If somebody told me my future queen was elegant, intelligent, good at diplomacy..."

Leyra waited.

"...and could personally beat the life choices out of anyone stupid enough to threaten the kingdom?"

Her mouth twitched.

"I'd be thrilled."

"That's you."

"According to you."

"According to reality."

Leyra glanced toward the knights again.

Then back.

"The people are used to seeing me differently."

"People get used to lots of things."

"Not royal expectations."

"Especially royal expectations."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

I continued.

"They already love the version of you they know."

Leyra looked down.

"The delicate princess."

"Yes."

Her expression tightened.

I leaned closer.

"But that doesn't mean they'd reject the rest."

She looked at me again.

"The fighter?"

"The woman who likes fighting."

She said nothing.

"The one who doesn't always want to sit perfectly."

Still nothing.

"The one who enjoyed underground arenas enough to become undefeated."

Her eyes sharpened.

I smiled.

"Until one extremely handsome diplomat ruined your record."

Leyra's mouth curved despite herself.

"I still hate that you say it that way."

"It's historically accurate."

"No one recorded it."

"I did."

"In your head?"

"Most reliable archive."

She shook her head.

Then became serious again.

"What if they don't like that side?"

I answered immediately.

"They don't need to like every part of you."

That caught her.

I continued.

"They need to trust you."

Silence.

"And if you're going to be queen someday..."

Her eyes stayed on mine.

"...I'd rather the kingdom know a real woman is sitting on the throne than a perfect statue everybody invented."

Leyra's expression softened.

Slowly.

She looked toward her food.

"You really are good at persuasion."

I smiled.

"Professional skill."

"I can see why Father hired you."

"Finally. Someone appreciates my qualifications."

Leyra laughed quietly.

Then looked at me again.

"You would make a good ruler."

I froze.

"No."

She smiled.

"Not interested."

"Extremely not interested."

"You have qualities suited to it."

"Tragic."

"You understand people."

"Sometimes."

"You listen."

"When attractive women speak, absolutely."

"Caled."

"What?"

She shook her head.

"You can make people reconsider things without forcing them."

I shrugged.

"That's diplomacy."

"That's leadership too."

I stared at her.

"Still no."

Leyra smiled.

"You really dislike the idea."

"I dislike being trapped."

Her smile faded slightly.

Not offended.

Curious.

"By responsibility?"

"By anything."

I looked toward the window.

Darkness had settled outside.

Lanterns glowed along the town streets.

A few people still walked past.

"I don't want a throne."

Leyra listened.

"I don't want a crown."

I looked back.

"I don't want an entire kingdom deciding what I'm supposed to do every hour for the rest of my life."

Leyra's expression changed.

Something vulnerable appeared.

I continued.

"I want freedom."

The word felt simple.

Because it was.

"I want to go somewhere because I feel like going."

"Meet people because I want to."

"Stay somewhere because I enjoy it."

"Leave when I don't."

Leyra looked down.

I smiled faintly.

"I want to live the way I choose."

She said nothing.

Then I added, "And I think you should want that too."

Her eyes lifted.

Something moved through them.

Not anger.

Not disagreement.

Emotion.

Strong enough that her eyes trembled slightly.

Leyra whispered, "Freedom."

"Yeah."

Her gaze dropped again.

For a long moment, she simply sat there.

Princess posture.

Elegant clothes.

Royal escort all around us.

A woman who had everything except the right to be every version of herself in public.

Then she looked at me.

Her voice was soft.

"I would love that."