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CHAPTER 3 — "Sedatives, Maids, and a Very Tired Prince"
The silence that followed the exchange of insults was thick—almost uncomfortable.
Ana stood still for a few seconds, her brow furrowed, shoulders tense. Her mind was still trying to process everything at once: the palace, the plague, magic, the self-proclaimed idiot prince… and the minor but important detail that she had been shoved into the sea by a wolf-man with a savior complex.
She took a deep breath.
Then she spoke.
"Hey, Leo… or whatever your name is," she said, her voice trying to sound reasonable—though it very clearly wasn't. "I need you to explain a few things to me. You know… if that's not too much to ask."
Leo blinked, genuinely surprised by the sudden shift in tone. He straightened up slightly, as if an invisible switch had just been flipped in his brain.
"Yes, Ana," he replied with a courtesy so abrupt it felt suspicious. "That's fine. Whatever you ask, I'll answer."
Ana stared at him for a second. His black wolf ears twitched faintly, attentive. His expression was sincere.
Too sincere.
That was what set her off.
"If that's the case, then—" she began, taking a step forward.
And then she exploded.
"WHAT DOES ALL OF THIS MEAN?!" she shouted, throwing her arms up. "DO YOU ACTUALLY EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE YOU, YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT?!"
Leo instinctively stepped back half a pace.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" Ana continued, now completely unfiltered. "A PROPHET?! A TRAGIC HERO?! YOU'RE JUST A WEIRD FURRY WITH A HABIT OF KIDNAPPING HUMANS, YOU MASSIVE PERVERT!"
Her voice echoed through the royal bedroom, bouncing off marble and silk.
And then—
Everything went black.
Ana didn't feel pain. She didn't feel dizzy. There was just a sudden absence of the world, as if someone had turned off the lights inside her head.
Her body tipped forward without resistance.
"But how—?" Leo managed, reaching out on reflex.
Ana never hit the floor.
Behind him, two figures had been observing the entire scene in complete silence.
Yeana and Nella.
Yeana was the first to speak.
"Yes, sir," she said calmly. "This does involve us."
Leo turned around, confused.
Yeana stepped forward. She was tall, pale-skinned, with silver-gray hair tied back with precise elegance. Her white eyes—lacking any visible pupils—were a clear mark of the Air Region's nobility. Her posture was flawless, impeccable… and her expression carried the faintest hint of condescension.
"She was being disrespectful," Yeana continued. "So I administered a sedative through an invisible air current. If someone physically weak inhales it, they lose consciousness. It isn't exactly gentle… but I doubt someone with such a filthy mouth would die from it, Your Highness."
Nella stared at her, eyes wide.
"Huh?" she said. "Wait—what?"
Nella was Yeana's complete opposite. Her eyes were a vivid red, her reddish-brown hair falling in a far less orderly manner, her skin slightly tanned. Even when standing still, she radiated explosive energy.
"Regardless," Nella added, crossing her arms, "she's a royal guest. You went too far, Yeana. That's not something you do."
Yeana tilted her head slightly.
"And allow her to insult His Highness?"
"He didn't tell you to do anything."
"So what? You want to fight?"
"I don't think you're brave enough."
The air itself seemed to tense between them.
"ENOUGH!" Leo snapped, raising his voice.
Silence fell instantly.
Yeana and Nella straightened at once—disciplined, obedient… though clearly not pleased.
Leo sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.
"Yes… that was wrong," he admitted. "But just so you know, this strange creature you see here—" he glanced at Ana's unconscious body "—I kidnapped her from her world and brought her to mine. It's normal for her to react like that."
Both maids lowered their gazes for a brief second.
"And because of her act of rebellion," he continued, "you are now permanently assigned as her personal attendants. I originally planned for it to be temporary… but from now on, she's your responsibility."
Yeana raised an eyebrow.
"Permanently?" she asked, her sarcasm so refined it could cut glass. "And what will you be doing, Your Great Eminence?"
Nella smirked.
"Yes, Your Highness," she added. "What exactly will you be doing while we take care of this… strange creature?"
They both watched him closely.
They expected a solemn answer. A strategic order. Something worthy of the crown prince of a magical nation.
Leo yawned.
"I'm tired," he said. "I'm going to sleep."
A heavy silence followed.
"Take care of this," he added, already turning away. "Being the crown prince is exhausting."
And he left.
Just like that.
His footsteps faded down the hallway, leaving behind two stunned noblewomen and one unconscious human dressed in royal silk.
Nella was the first to speak.
"…Is he always like this?"
Yeana studied Ana carefully. Her curly black hair spread across the pale pillow, her dark skin contrasting sharply with the cream-colored fabric embroidered in gold.
"No," Yeana replied. "Usually, he's worse."
Nella snorted.
"Fantastic. We're stuck taking care of a mythological urban legend… with anger issues."
"And a filthy mouth," Yeana added quietly.
They both sighed at the same time.
The real problem…
Was only just beginning.
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