A beam of sunlight filled the suite and landed in the large king-sized bed. A monstrous groan came from the blankets and sheets as Vigilant slowly sat up. He rubbed his foreleg across his face and blinked one eyelid at a time. The prince smacked his dry lips together and hissed. His head pounded like a Silveltian war drum. Vigilant buried his head into the pillow and mumbled a prayer to the gods for forgiveness. It was not proper for royalty to become drunk, at the very least it was not proper to become drunk during a visit to another nation. The consumption of alcohol was not sinful in itself, but to become drunk was to lose one's inhibitions. Losing one's inhibitions could lead to sin and blasphemy. A common worker might drink and get drunk all the time, and all he had to do was to pray for forgiveness by a shrine for absolution from the gods. Maybe he would donate to his local temple if he had done or said something particularly bad. The same rules did not apply to the nobility. The leaders of the nation were supposed to be pious and always in the good graces of the divine. And Vigilant had failed that spectacularly. Hopefully, he had not done or said something which he would regret.

"Burthis, goddess of sun and purity, forgive my transgression last night. I have behaved improperly for a stallion of my position... When I return to Cosea I will apologize to the high priestess. Know I am your loyal servant and will be of use to the mares around me as the scripture dictates. I shall meet with a princess today and I wish for your blessing to show my true honest character. Guide me so I may help and be worthy of her time and presence. The light guides us all."

After his prayer, the prince burped and swallowed thickly. Yet soon his cheeks ballooned and he stumbled out of the bed and hurried to the bathroom where he emptied his bowels. As the prince wiped his mouth he sniffled and shuddered from the sudden chill which ran through his body. He had gotten drunk before, but that had been a light buzz compared to the strong wine that he had drunk the night before. Vigilant looked down at his disheveled clothes and threw them into a corner of the bathroom to be picked up by the maid staff. He then stumbled back to bed.

Vigilant laid in bed for an hour. He mostly used that time to observe a ray of sunlight as it moved across the room. His thoughts dwelled on his mother and he remembered when she had once caught him and Sayian as they tried to steal wine from the cellar. The queen had not been angry at the two, she had handed them two glasses and told them to indulge. The two colts had taken one sip of the liquid and thrown the glass in disgust. Starlit eyes had laughed at the two of them and informed them they would like it more when they were older, and legally allowed to drink. He smiled for a second and looked down at the letter next to him on the bed. He gripped it with his light blue magic and held it above his head. He lightly pulled on the seal before he shook his head and simply kissed it.

Not yet. Only when he was certain that he was worthy would he open it.

It was at that moment there was a knock on the door and Vigilant quickly put the letter back with the stack of notes and hid them under his bed. "You may enter."

The maid from the day before timidly stepped into the room and scrunched her nose. She looked around until her eyes landed on the prince who was mostly obscured by the darkness in the room. The maid took a deep breath and marched to the window with determination and pulled the curtains aside. Vigilant grumbled as light flooded the room and his headache returned. The prince pulled the covers over his head and groaned. The maid simply opened the window and shook her head at him.

"Permission to speak, prince Vigilant?" she asked.

"Granted..." he mumbled in return.

"Prince Vigilant, you need water and a bath. As your assigned caretaker I must suggest you do so before meeting with her highness Athena. She is not patient and her ire will grow if you are tardy. Furthermore, you will feel much better should you follow my advice," the maid said.

Vigilant nodded slowly and sat up. "Fine... Please get me some water and pour me a bath."

The mare bowed and hurried out of the room. She called for someone and two more maids entered the room. They took his dirty clothes and began to fill the bathtub with warm water. They also left a basket with cleaning supplies for the prince. Eventually, Vigilant's personal maid returned with a large glass filled with water and a pitcher which contained more of it. Vigilant took the glass and chugged it down before he then held out the glass to the maid. She refilled it and the prince downed it once more.

"Is the bath ready?" Vigilant mumbled and shook his head in an attempt to lose his dazed state.

"Certainly. You bathe and wash then call upon us again. Ordinarily, I would offer your company and to wash your back, but I assume you would like to do it yourself, prince Vigilant," the maid said.

The prince nodded slowly. "Yes... I would rather not look more like a delinquent than I already do."

"You are young, do not be hard on yourself, prince."

"That is no excuse when the gods are always watching..." he mumbled in response and stumbled into the bathroom.

The tub had been filled with warm water and steam rose from it. Scented candles had been lit in on the sink and they spread a serene smell of lavender in the room.

Vigilant smiled at the sight and climbed into the bath. He stood in the water for a second and let his stiff legs and tail soften up. He took a deep breath and then slid his front paws forward until his chest touched the floor of the tub and his head became submerged. He groaned in satisfaction as his joints popped and he then slid the rest of his body into the water. As Vigilant became fully submerged water flooded from the sides of the tub and dozed the marble floor. Yet all of it soon disappeared down the drain. After a minute of enjoying himself, the prince resurfaced and leaned his chin on the side of the tub while his paddle emerged from the water. It flicked ever so slightly and Vigilant sighed in content. Then he heard the maids giggle and their footsteps carried towards the hallway. He opened his eyes as the maids closed the door with a thud and left his chambers. It made him frown and he closed his eyes again.

For a second he imagined that the Silfy maid had stayed. She entered the tub with him and rubbed his bag with her nimble paws. He imagined she dug her claws into his back and blew a breath over his ear. The maid giggled at his moan and leaned in closer...

Vigilant's eyes shot open and he yelped as his chin slid off into the water. His face flushed and he shuddered at the touch of sin. He could not give in to such sinful thoughts, even though they seemed to appear quite often these days. Vigilant poked his head over the water and looked around the bathroom. No sign of the maids. The prince cleared his throat and swallowed thickly. Perhaps he should have accepted the company the maid had offered him after all. Not to partake in sinful activities, of course! But rather so he had company. All he had were the walls and his thoughts.

And his thoughts were not kind.

His mind dragged him through the events of the previous weeks: His mother's sudden illness and death; his new position on the council; his discovery of how his mother had really died; his attack on the protestors; and of course Sacred Shield's disapproval. He grumbled as he thought about the Silveltian mare and he glared at the wall. Sacred had been his mother's bodyguard and head of security. Perhaps she had something to do with the poisoning?

"I need to talk to Oliver when I get back. Maybe take Sayian with me," Vigilant mumbled to himself.

After a few minutes, the prince grabbed the basket with soap and shampoo the maids had left for him. He ran the soap over his body and hummed with delight. He then applied a large amount of shampoo this his gelatinous mane. The sweat and filth from the previous day were replaced by a sweet scent of lilacs. Once Vigilant was done he stepped out of the bath and ran a towel over his body. When he was dry, he walked out into the room and called for the maid, and she entered with a bow.

"Shall I help you prepare an outfit for the day, your highness?"

Vigilant nodded. "Yes, I would be pleased by that."

The maid walked over to the wardrobe and opened it. She looked through the available outfits and then her eyes landed on a red shirt and a black vest. She pulled it out and pressed it against the prince's chest. She leaned in and examined it for a second before she nodded. "We can at least make you look nice."

"At least? Is something wrong?"

The maid looked up. "Hum? Oh, no-no, nothing is wrong. At least not yet. Just be sure to keep yourself in the good graces of his divine excellency, he is not known for his kindness."

Vigilant nodded slowly and lifted one leg at a time as the maid dressed him in the outfit. Once she was done she bowed and left the room, only to be replaced by the guard from the day before. Vigilant gave the stallion a nod and the guard returned the favor. Though he did something which made Vigilant's brow furl: the guard sniffed the air and scoffed in amusement.

"Let us go to the main hall, the princess is waiting," the guard said and led the way.

"What about breakfast?" Vigilant called after him as he followed.

"That will be provided in the city. Now you should focus on impressing the princess. She is a rebellious sort and she is willfully ignorant about her place in the world. Hopefully, you may teach her something about how a mare is supposed to act, seeing as there isn't a single true stallion on Cosea," the guard huffed.

"Less disdain towards my nation and more marching..." Vigilant growled and the guard complied.

As they reached the main hall they were met by a squadron of eight heavily armed Silfy stallions. They stood around the princess with their weapons ready. They all looked strong enough to kick down a tree, and Vigilant swallowed as he approached them. The guards did not react to his presence and only made some room so the prince and princess could stand face to face. Though their eyes did not leave him for a second. Vigilant noted that one Silfy unicorn had a chain on hand with runes carved into it, a way to bind demons or spirits alike. Did they expect warlocks from Cosea? How despicable did they believe their southern cousins to be? Vigilant shook his head in annoyance and frustration before his eyes landed on the princess.

And gods she was beautiful on this day too.

Athena was dressed in a black dress with a short skirt. The outfit bore the royal family's seal on its back and several runic phrases had been stitched into it. Vigilant could almost feel the magic that dripped from the dress, though it was nothing in comparison to Athena herself. He then noted the red scarf that had been tied around her neck and the crown from the day before had been swapped for a simple silver band. Finally, he looked into her eyes and they shimmered like the sun. Athena then looked him over and a faint smile touched her lips as she noticed his clothes. Whether it was amusement or appreciation was uncertain, but it was a smile. Vigilant was about to ask the black mare how her morning had been when her nostrils flared and she scoffed in amusement.

"I see father has decided to punish you for your behavior last night. Fitting he made it as subtle as possible," Athena said.

Vigilant looked at Athena with a confused frown. "Punishment?"

"Tell me, prince Vigilant, what do you think of lilacs?" Athena asked and moved towards the great doors which led outside to the courtyard.

The prince followed her and pondered on her words. "Well I don't really see your point, but I suppose I like their smell? They are beautiful flowers."

"They are. But they are not well-liked among our people. The lilac is the symbol of the House of Garmain, the traitor's flower. They are considered taboo to grow and even more so to wear or use products made from them. It is considered rude to wear lilac perfume and an insult to give lilac products to another. So rejoice that father only gave you soap, not a necklace of the damn things," Athena huffed.

Vigilant blinked at the princess and then sighed. "I made a fool of myself yesterday, and I am very sorry."

"Show me your regret by making this day a good one then."

"I will."

As they walked through the gate out into the courtyard the guards saluted them both, though there was clear discomfort in the act when it came to Vigilant. He knew they did not like Coseans, and they thought Cosean stallions weak, but this was unacceptable.

"You need to reprimand your guards for treating a foreign dignitary with such disrespect," Vigilant said.

Athena sighed. "Do not take it with anger, prince Vigilant. My father has demanded they be tough on you. He wants to see how you react. He has heard about the incident with the protestors and I suppose he would like for you to snap."

"But... Why would he want such a thing!? That is absurd! I am a prince, no, a king! I deserve respect!" Vigilant growled.

"He did it specifically to draw THAT out. He wants to know if you are an entitled brat or a future ally. I suggest you ignore the guards' treatment of you and focus on impressing my father instead. The sooner you gain his respect the faster they will treat you like a king. And... I suggest you stop screaming about you being the king. No true king needs to tell others that he is a king," Athena said and took a turn down a gravel path until they reached a locked metal gate.

Vigilant watched as the guards unlocked the gate and then proceeded to check the path beyond it. Once they were certain it was safe they beckoned Athena to follow.

"Why would you give me such information? Why help me? I am certain the emperor would like you to keep quiet about my humiliation."

The princess stopped in her step and tensed up. She clenched her jaw and stared straight forward. "Because I hate him."

Vigilant was slackjawed and he looked at Athena in shock and awe. She took a deep breath and composed herself before she walked out the door and down the path towards the city. Vigilant scrambled after her and smiled. He had found a reasonable mare in this nation after all.

Tarnov was just as impressive during the day as it was during the night. While the city was not as colorful or vibrant as Kos it was large and imposing. The houses were rarely wide but often tall. Spires reached towards the heavens all around the city and all above them were walkways and arches which connected the different structures. It gave Vigilant the impression that the city was divided into layers. The roofs that he could see were made from tiles that slanted downwards and each corner of the roof curved upwards to create a pike. The city was made up of spears and spires. Perhaps it was a way to scare other nations, to have one's capital appear like a weapon. Yet the inherit beauty of Tarnow tarnished that idea. Trees were grown in the middle of some streets, banners that bore Terasias' seals hung from towers and houses alike, and brutalist shrines to the sun god were all around the city.

"Your home is beautiful, princess," Vigilant said in awe.

Athena's eyes drifted over the alleyways and streets with a disinterested look. "It has its fair flowers and beautiful towers, but I personally find it quite boring. I can not go to the charming bars, exciting societies, or scandalous shops. I can go to the perfect parks, safe restaurants, and slow theater houses. But that's it."

Vigilant moved up beside her with a smile. "Well, surely you could visit some of those 'forbidden' places. You are of royal lineage after all."

"My brothers did say you were still a child... I just couldn't see it by looking at you..." Athena mumbled.

"What?"

"Tell me, prince Vigilant, how does your nation view its stallions?" Athena asked.

Vigilant looked at her with uncertainty before his gaze drifted to a clothing shop. Inside there were all kinds of military and ceremonial garbs made for stallions, but none for mares. He then noted that it was a shop specifically for the high society, yet it only served clothes for stallions. It was a horrible business practice, they locked out half of their clientele for gods sake, but perhaps more of a cultural statement than anything else.

"As a stallion of Cosea it is my role to adhere to the needs and opinions of the mares around me. As crown prince, soon king, I am exempt from doing so for peasants or lower class mares, but any mare of noble birth is my better in the eyes of the gods. Of course, I am still the king, the monarch who ultimately decides what our nation does. But a stallion is to serve the gods by worshipping mares, that is our doctrine and creed. Of course, open worship of any mare that passes by has not been in fashion for generations, but we still worship our mares through prayer, respect, and faith," he responded.

Athena nodded as they left the street and reached a square with a large stone mausoleum in the middle of it. "In Silfy, mares are those who are supposed to worship stallions. Our God chose a stallion as his vessel, it was a stallion who founded Tarnov, a stallion who ordered the construction of the first university of magic, a stallion who led our armies to conquer and our nation to prosper, and a stallion who gave his life so our god could live. Our nation does not hold stallions in high regard for nothing, they have done many good things, but its need to worship them is... tasteless."

The princess nodded towards the stone mausoleum as stallions entered and exited it. Mares stood outside the building and prayed, not one dared to step over a line of golden mosaic on the ground. The mausoleum bore the symbol of Orion and the Silfy flag, a holy place. Though it was not royal, at least there were no royal guards near the structure nor were nobles around it. Most stallions that entered looked plain, either part of the clergy or dressed in the garbs of a commoner. Black robes and grey shirts.

Vigilant eyed the spectacle around the mausoleum and tilted his head at the mares. "Why is it tasteless?"

"It is tasteless because it stifles half our strength. Look at the hall of heroes. Only stallions are allowed to enter it and to be consecrated as heroes. Mares have the hall of saints, a much smaller and less important building. Yet stallions can enter that building as they see fit. Being consecrated as a saint after death is the highest honor a mare can achieve, and it is a great boon to her family and speaks of her virtue, but it is seen as less important than the consecration of a hero. Do you think stallions stand in droves to worship the saints? They pay their respect if they are related or feel particularly pious that day, but other than that they ignore the hall of saints. That is why it is tasteless. As a mare, I am meant to marry a good husband, bear his children, and take care of the household. There is no shame in caring for one's home or children, I would gladly do it, but I want more than just that. I love sailing, I absolutely adore commanding a vessel. But in our culture, only stallions can be captains or sailors. I only know how to steer a ship thanks to my brothers, for they like to indulge my 'strange' hobbies. People do not expect mares to be able to sail. That was the reason I decided to enter the race for Zawargart island, to prove that I could steer a ship just as well as any stallion," she grinned.

The prince looked out over the waves and then back at her. "I was wondering how you managed such a feat. I heard you won the race, but no one even knew you were competing."

Athena smiled. "Well... I first heard about the race from an admiral who was also partaking. The prize was all of Zawargart island, which is very large, and the condition for winning was that you were the first to make one lap around the island. I took some money from my personal treasury, told my father and brothers some lie about traveling to a paradise island, and then I went down to the harbor with two very loyal and bribable guards. I found some rough bastards to be part of my crew, a shitty ship which only cost me five thousand royals, and then I dressed in a stallion's clothes and cut my hair. I traveled to the colonies as 'Captain Kiran Sulvan' to partake in the event. I had my crew spread some rumors about me to the other participants, you know the usual scare tactic. I was never really planning on winning, participating had been enough for me to make my point.

"But then... As all hundred ships—It boggles the mind, one hundred captains from all over the sea competing for one price—set off that morning, each one hoping to become the owner of Zawargart, the wind was with us. Our ship cruised over the waves like it was made from nothing but air. I remember the crew's excitement as we got the head start. We lost the lead many times throughout the journey, but I pleaded with the god inside my soul as we approached that final stretch. I begged him for a chance to prove myself, to show that I could be as great as my father. It is said only the one who sits on the crystal throne can hear the god speak, but I swear I heard a voice: 'Go forth and conquer.' The wind picked up, we cruised past the admiral who had told me about the race to begin with, and we began to toss everything we could off the ship. Barrels, furniture, supplies, anything so we could be lighter. Some of my crew even jumped into the water! When we crossed that finish line I felt the light in me soar, and I announced who I was to all the participants. The face the admiral made... By Orion, I want to do it again."

Vigilant looked on as Athena told her tale and he smiled at her pride. "How did the emperor take it?"

"He banned me from being on any ship for a year. If I am caught on one I will be locked in my room for three months," she huffed.

The prince was slack-jawed and he cleared his throat. "Surely your father would not do that."

"My father once beat my brother to a pulp for making jokes about a foreign dignitary. My father may love his children, but he loves tradition and politics more. He will not accept any deviation from the norm. I can give you an example of that right away, remember the flower I placed on the seat next to father yesterday?" Athena asked and left the hall of heroes behind.

Vigilant followed her and looked down the street. "I remember it. I am not certain as to its purpose, however."

"The flower represents my mother, the late empress. Every time we hold a dinner in that room I must bring a flower to place on her seat. Every. Single. Time. The most insulting thing is that it was her least favorite flower, but tradition states that is the flower that must be placed on her seat. I have pleaded with father to change it, just for mother's sake, but he refused. I love him, truly I do, he is my father, but I also hate him. He raised me yet he refuses to let me be free. He taught me how to be strong yet forbids me from showing it. He says I am meant for great things, yet tells me the god-soul in my body does not belong to me. I love him, and I hate him."

Athena stopped as they reached the port. The sea was calm and the sound of dockworkers and seagulls were the only thing that could be heard. Vigilant looked around and noticed the taverns and pubs nestled between warehouses and homes. There were stone stairs that led down to the beach and Athena gladly walked down to the golden sand. The princess stretched as her paws sunk into the warm sand and she made a happy noise. Vigilant smiled at the sight. It was very cute. Though he then noted how her skirt hitched higher as she stretched, and it showed off her round soft flank in all its glory.

The prince basically died on the stone steps from flustered coughs and some of the guards that had followed him and Athena looked at him with amusement.

The princess turned around and basked in the sunlight. "Come, I want to show you something."

Vigilant walked down to the beach and sighed in content as the warm sand slipped between his paws. He followed Athena further along the beach until they reached a statue. It was placed on a particularly high pedestal so it would escape the tide. The pedestal itself was aged and had barnacles at the bottom, but the state was pure white. The statue depicted a stallion that held the sun in his paws, and he had swallowed half of it. Not a speck of dust was on its perfect exterior, even though the statue was right on the edge of the water.

"This statue has been here for centuries. Touch the plaque on the pedestal," Athena said.

Vigilant walked up to Athena and noted the plaque and inscription at the base of the statue. He touched it and marveled at how warm it was. It was a gentle warm, which washed away all worries and headaches. Vigilant tried to read it the text on the plaque but he scrunched his face in confusion and then looked at the princess. She smiled and nodded at the inscription.

"It says 'Garlak, noch, alena dor.' It means: 'I swear to guard your soul.' It was the promise the first emperor gave to the god Orion before he ate the dying god's physical form to take his soul into him. It is the beginning of our people as we know it, the victories, the wealth, the conquest... I must have listened to my mother tell that story a thousand times."

Vigilant looked at the small sun in the statue's paws and then back at Athena's eyes. Their golden glow was fierce, and he could sense the magic which flowed of her like heavy rain from a roof. The energy encased her form, it shifted and turned, and finally, it seemed to stare at him. For a second his breath hitched in his throat as he felt like the mass of magical energy stared him down, but it soon lost interest and returned to its former unfocused state. Athena noted his pale face and scoffed in amusement.

"Orion is protective of his hosts. You do not stare at him without him seeing it," she said.

The prince nodded slowly and swallowed in an attempt to clear his dry throat. "I... I have never seen magic like that before... Is it truly a god that lives inside you?"

"A god, a grand spirit, a celestial creature from beyond the stars, there are many different depictions of Orion across our holy texts, but to most, he is a god. A god weakened from a killing blow, but a god nonetheless," Athena answered.

The two heirs stood by the statue for a moment before Athena turned to him. "Would you like to see the arena?"

"Oh, gladly. I have heard only good things about it so far," he said.

"It is one of Tarnov's marvels, I'll give you that. Sadly it is not used all year round for competitions or duels, though it should be."

The princess led the prince away from the statue and marched him back up into the city. The two royals eventually reached the northern gate of the Tarnov and Athena guided him to a golden carriage. The journey took twenty minutes and once they reached the arena Vigilant stood in awe of the building. It was a square twenty-meter tall stadium made from stone that held several stone walkways on the sides of the building which led to small gateways into the arena proper. The prince practically ran inside the main gateway into the arena with a very amused princess following him.

As he entered the main grounds of the arena he looked around in awe at the number of seats that were all around them. At least ten thousand ponies had to fit in there, and that was a low estimate. Yet the grounds themselves were just as impressive. Rings for martial combat, tracks for runners, specially warded combat zones for spellcasters to face one another. It was impressive, to say the least. There were even javelins and discus to throw alongside the middle of the grounds. There was also a small depression in the ground filled with sand meant for wrestling. The arena was a place of competition and combat, a place for tournaments and duels. Vigilant imagined the seats filled with ponies from all over Silfy. Each would scream and cheer as their favorite fighters and athletes pushed their bodies and knowledge to the limit. It was a proper place to prove one's worth.

"Twenty thousand can view the competitions, and such events are always a favorite for our people. Even mares are allowed to compete in some competitions, specifically spellcasting. Magic is more about the mind than the body after all," Athena smiled.

"Have you ever won in magic combat before?" Vigilant asked.

"Against normal competitors? Yes. Against my brothers? No. I have Orion to rely on for strength, but so do they, and my brothers have fought in wars and battles. I may know more spells, but my brothers have combat experience. I wish I could say I beat them in a competition, but they have so far always bested me," Athena said with a sigh.

The prince nodded and looked out over the arena. "I am certain you'll beat them one day."

Athena smiled at the compliment and gave him a thankful nod. "I hope so too. My father would be furious at the idea that I'd win, and my brothers would finally take me seriously."

"I always wanted to be a combat mage myself, but the position is reserved for mares. They can make exceptions for particularly adapt stallions, but it is rare. But to wear church colors and protect people with magic... That was a dream I had since I was young," Vigilant said.

Athena scoffed in amusement. "I have always enjoyed magic myself and thought about becoming a combat mage, but it is only for stallions. It seems we were both born to the wrong royal family."

Vigilant laughed in amusement. "I suppose we were."

The two stood side by side for a moment and took in the sight of the arena. Vigilant pondered on something and looked over the beautiful Silfy mare for a second. She commanded respect even though she described her nation as being unfriendly to mares. She even held a claim to Zawargart island through her efforts. Vigilant respected that immensely.

"Tell me, Athena, what do you wish to do with Zawargart?"

"I wish for it to become my home and the home of my children. I wish for it to become an independent state, where my sons or daughters may live without having to answer to my father or brothers. I am sixth in line to inherit the throne, prince Vigilant. I had much more of a chance with Zawargart than I ever will have at home. Furthermore, upon my father's death, my brothers will tear each other apart for his throne. I know them well and I know that at most my younger brother Eragonis will stay out of it, being part of the clergy and all. But the rest of them will fight for the title," she said with a sad sigh.

Vigilant blinked in surprise. "Do you not have inheritance laws?"

"We do. But that does not mean that my brothers will adhere to those laws. My two oldest brothers are the worst. They both sway nobles to their side in preparation for my father's death, and my father can only admonish them and take away some of their privileges. And once my father is dead? Then he can do nothing. Silfy is a powerful nation, but only as powerful as its royal family stands united, and our family has been splintered ever since the death of our mother. It is an awful situation, and it will weaken us, but none of my brothers will give up their claim to the throne. Well, maybe Eragonis will, but even he covets the throne, even if he claims he only has the desire to worship Orion," Athena said.

The prince looked over the Silfy princess for a moment and came to a decision. "When I am king I shall support your claim to Zawargart and build a lasting friendship between our two nations. You have my word."

Athena's eyes sparkled at the news and she smiled brightly at him. "Thank you... Truly I mean it, thank you. I shall not forget such kindness anytime soon."

The princess leaned in close and lightly nuzzled Vigilant's neck. The prince's breath caught in his throat and she smiled at his flustered appearance. Athena nodded towards the exit of the arena and walked back towards the carriage with a sway in her hips. Vigilant eyed her for a second with a dumb grin and followed her. As the two made their way back to the city their conversation would be much more light and pleasant, and Vigilant swore that the princess smiled at every word he said. A smile that may his heart soar, and for the first time since he came to Silfy, he felt completely at ease.

Author's Note

I am sorry that it has taken me this long to update this story. I just lost motivation for a long time when it came to writing and anything really, but now I felt the urge to complete this chapter I started on months ago. I hope you all enjoyed it! I also went far beyond the 3k limit I try to have for all my chapters, but I hope I didn't feel padded out or full of filler. Also with this chapter, my story has officially passed 50k words! Good on me for making it this far and good on you for taking the time to read it. Have a good day now!