528 Overnight at Spring Castle
Throughout the palace, there were various secret gardens and hidden alcoves, each filled with its own unique array of flowers and plants. The air was always warm and sweet, and the sound of birds and gentle waterfalls could be heard in the distance.
"By the way . . ."
Ren was put back in the present at Alroth's voice.
"Are you going to share one room?"
Ren hadn't registered what the Dryad was talking about, and when he noticed Elena's red face, he wanted to smack the Dryad in the head.
"No," Ren said with an edge. "We will have separate rooms."
At Ren's forceful tone, Elena made a face. "You don't have to be so against with the idea."
Ren raised a brow at her. "What are you even talking about?"
Elena snapped her head forward and ignored him. "Nothing. Arloth, lead me to my chambers. I want to retire early."
"Yes, my Lady."
As Elena and Arloth went ahead, Ren was left behind, thinking about the reason why the Princess was acting weird again.
Eventually, they arrived in a hallway in where the guest rooms were located. Elena was only on the next door, and she made a face at Ren before she entered and disappeared behind closed doors.
"Your room is right this way, sir." Arloth led Ren next door.
Ren entered his bedroom and was greeted with a warm and inviting ambiance. The walls were painted a soothing, neutral color, and large windows let in plenty of natural light, offering a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape outside.
The centerpiece of the room was a large, comfortable bed with plush pillows and soft, high-quality linens that looked invitingly comfortable. The headboard was crafted from polished wood and carved with intricate designs, adding a touch of elegance to the room.
On either side of the bed, there were bedside tables with matching lamps, providing soft, warm lighting for night-time reading or relaxing. In one corner of the room, there was a cozy armchair with a small table and reading lamp, perfect for curling up with a good book or enjoying a cup of tea.
The room also featured a spacious closet equipped with hangers and a luggage rack for guests' convenience. A full-length mirror was mounted on the wall, allowing guests to check their appearance before heading out for the day.
A writing desk and chair were situated near the windows. There were ready tea and snacks on the table and something like a little bell if he ever needed anything.
The space was better than staying in the Inns and was definitely better than anything he saw.
Ren removed his cloak and took a breather in his bed. Watching at the cove ceiling while counting the blooming flowers painted over it.
Hmm . . . Ren twisted and turn before he sat on the bed. He felt like every second was wasted if he was resting. He didn't like the feeling of not doing anything because all sorts of depressing thoughts came into his mind.
He liked it if he was occupied with a lot of stuff, and Ren decided to do a little alchemy with the current ingredients he had.
He decided to make a mint, verbana, different fruits like kokorinut, banago, and all sorts of berries to make a [Greater HP and MP potion] before selling it to the Auction House.
Ren would like to make other stuff, but with the lack of materials and ingredients, he could only make potions right now. He gathered a lot of herbs, so he went for the most expensive one to make, which was the [Greater Restoration Potion] and [Greater HP and MP Potion].
Ren was getting into his game when he heard something like a stone knocking over a glass. Looking at the window that led to the balcony, he did notice a pebble hitting the window pane.
Curious, Ren shot to his feet and checked the balcony, only to find that the Princess was on the other side, waving and grinning at him. She was in her sleeping dress made of the finest silk, as light and airy as a summer breeze. It was a delicate shade of pale blue, reminiscent of the night sky, with a subtle shimmer that caught the starlight. The dress was sleeveless, with a deep v-neckline that showcased her elegant collarbone.
The bodice of the dress was fitted with intricate embroidery in silver and gold thread that traced delicate patterns across the fabric. The waistline was cinched with a slender silver ribbon, which tied in a bow at the back. The skirt of the dress flew down to Elena's ankles in soft, gentle folds, swaying gently in the breeze.
As she stood on the balcony under the starry sky, the dress seemed to glimmer and dance in the moonlight, accentuating the graceful curves of Elena's slender form. She wore no shoes, feeling the cool stone of the balcony beneath her feet.
With a soft sigh, Elena closed her eyes and breathed in the cool night air, letting the peaceful ambiance of the evening envelop her. The gentle rustling of the leaves and the distant chirping of crickets lull her into a state of relaxation, and she feels content and at peace while smiling at Ren.
"Good evening. Sorry about the way I acted with you. It isn't appropriate of me," she started.
Ren didn't know what she was apologizing about. The incident with him being drunk? Or the event a while ago? Maybe both.
"It's nothing. Forget about it." Ren honesty didn't think too much about it, and he wore his expression on his face, which made Elena frown again.
"Can you act at least concerned for once?" she said.
"I do care about this mission a lot," Ren answered her with a straight face.
Elena's smile completely disappeared. "Right. Everything is a mission to you. I almost forgot how emotionless you are."
"You called me here just to say that to me?"
To that, Elena laughed, and Ren was baffled as to how her mood could change in a heartbeat.
"I'm an idiot for thinking too much about this, and here you are, so nonchalant about the whole thing," she muttered, voice barely audible.
Ren was confused. "What are we talking about here again?"
"Nothing." The Princess snapped. "Good night."
And before Ren could form a reply, she was gone, leaving him questioning himself about what he did wrong this time.
