The girl looked up at Lena with wide, shining eyes.
"You're really beautiful," she said simply.
Lena blinked, caught off guard. "Oh—thank you."
The girl giggled, spun on her heel, and ran off down the street, laughter trailing behind her like a ribbon in the air.
Ashikai snorted.
"She lied."
Lena stopped walking. "Excuse me?"
The fox flicked his tail dismissively. "Children exaggerate. It's a known fact."
She crossed her arms.
"So now you're an expert on beauty?"
"I'm an expert on honesty," he replied smugly.
"And statistically speaking—"
"Statistically speaking," Lena interrupted, "you're rude."
They bickered the entire walk home.
By the time they reached the Inn at the edge of the village, Lena was tired, hungry, and mildly offended.
She pushed the door open and sighed. "I'm taking a bath."
"Try not to drown," Ashikai muttered.
Inside the bathroom, steam soon filled the space as Lena scrubbed away the day's exhaustion. Outside, Ashikai hopped onto the windowsill, tail swaying as he stared into the fading light.
The shadow.
His ears twitched.
He could still feel it—like a presence just beyond perception. Watching. Waiting.
'I don't like this', he thought grimly. 'And I really don't like being unprepared'
The bathroom door creaked open.
Ashikai turned.
Lena stepped out wrapped tightly in a blanket, hair damp, face freshly washed.
He stiffened.
"What are you doing?"
She blinked. "Walking?"
His eyes narrowed. "That is not walking attire."
She raised an eyebrow. "It's a blanket."
He scoffed. "Highly suspicious."
"You are not accusing me of anything," she said flatly.
"I am accusing you of attempting to distract me," he replied. "Which will not work."
She burst out laughing. "Relax. I'm not trying to seduce a fox."
He huffed. "Good. Because that would be deeply inappropriate."
She rolled her eyes. "I washed my clothes. This is all I have for now."
"…Oh."
He looked away, ears twitching. "Fine. Carry on."
Dinner was called soon after. They ate quietly, the warmth of food easing the tension. For a few blessed hours, nothing strange happened.
That night, sleep came easily.
Too easily.
The next morning, a pillow smacked Ashikai square in the face.
He yelped, claws flashing out instinctively.
"Good morning!" Lena sang.
"I was dreaming!" he snapped. "Do you have any idea how rare that is?"
"You were snoring."
"I do not snore."
They argued while getting ready. Lena bathed quickly, humming to herself, while Ashikai perched nearby, still grumbling.
"Hibernation sounds wonderful," he
muttered.
"Sleep for months. No tyrants. No shadows."
"You'd get bored," she said.
"Untrue. I'd dream."
They decided to take a stroll through the city fairfare.
The streets were lively—vendors shouting, music playing, scents of fried dough and spice filling the air.
But something felt… different.
People whispered as they passed.
Heads bowed.
"Who are they talking about?" Lena asked.
Ashikai curled comfortably in her arms. "Queen Esmeralda."
"Queen?" Lena frowned. "I thought she was a princess."
"She insists everyone call her queen,"
Ashikai replied.
"From another kingdom. Believes she'll marry Kairos soon."
Lena grimaced. "That sounds… optimistic."
Ashikai's nose twitched.
"Speaking of optimism—koi fish bread."
He pointed his paw dramatically.
"I don't have money," Lena sighed.
Too late.
Ashikai had already hopped down and trotted to the stand.
She hurried after him, flustered. "Ashikai!"
The vendor smiled brightly. "You're my hundredth customer today. Free service!"
Lena blinked. "Really?"
Ashikai beamed.
They walked away with warm bread in hand.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "What did you do?"
"…A very small thing."
"You used magic."
"Barely."
She scolded him the entire time—so distracted they didn't notice the sudden silence around them.
People were bowing.
A carriage rolled to a stop.
"Hold her," a voice commanded.
Hands grabbed Lena's arms.
"What—hey! Let go!" she protested.
The carriage door opened.
A woman stepped out—long black hair, heavy makeup, eyes sharp with entitlement.
She crossed the distance in two steps and slapped Lena hard across the face.
"How dare you ignore me," the woman hissed, "for a lowly fox?"
Lena's head snapped back, shock turning instantly into fury.
She glared straight at the woman. "Who do you think you are?"
Inside her mind, Ashikai's voice whispered urgently:
Girl… you just messed up.
The woman smiled coldly.
"I am Queen Esmeralda."