The st fifteen minutes felt endless as they waited for the carriage at the entrance to the forest.

  Max paced back and forth along the path, counting steps without realizing it. Enor remained seated on a tree root, her cloak tightly wrapped around her, hands csped over her p.

  Neither of them spoke.

  The sound of approaching wheels broke the silence. Max lifted his head immediately. Between the trees, the carriage appeared, moving slowly along the narrow path. Don pulled on the reins and stopped the horse a few meters away from them.

  He climbed down from the seat and looked at them, one eyebrow raised.

  "Well," he said. "I thought I'd be the one doing the waiting."

  Max let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Enor stood up.

  "We arrived a little while ago," she replied. "We preferred not to draw attention."

  Don nodded, observing them more closely. He noticed the stiffness in Max's posture. The way Enor avoided meeting his eyes.

  "Get in," he finally said. "Let's head back before it gets dark."

  Enor took a step toward the carriage… and stopped.

  "Don," she said softly.

  He looked at her, serious.

  "Yes, miss?"

  She hesitated for just a moment.

  "I need to ask you something," she continued. "Please… help me make sure my father doesn't find out about what happened today."

  Don didn't answer right away.

  "I'll expin everything on the way back," she added, fingers tightening slightly. "All of it."

  The faun held her gaze for a few more seconds. Then he sighed.

  "Get in," he repeated. "We'll talk on the way."

  Max helped Enor climb into the carriage.

  The return trip was not going to be as light as the one there.

  ***

  The castle gates rose before them.

  The carriage moved along the stone road at a much slower pace than before, as if even the horse felt the weight of the conversation.

  Don pulled the reins and stopped the carriage at an entrance to the royal courtyard, far from the main gate.

  "Get down," he said. "Better if no one sees you coming in dressed like that."

  Enor climbed down first. Max followed, stretching his aching back slightly. The faun stepped down from the seat and looked at them with his arms crossed.

  He sighed.

  "I'll be blunt, miss," he said. "It's almost impossible for the king not to hear about the commotion you caused in the city."

  Enor lowered her head.

  "Don… please," she pleaded. "Just a little time. I beg you."

  He watched her in silence, his expression stern but tired.

  "Princess, this wasn't a minor prank. There was magic. Damage. People talking. The princess was recognized outside her royal duties. That spreads fast."

  Max cleared his throat.

  "Maybe…" he said, "you should help her anyway."

  Don slowly turned his head toward him.

  "Oh? Really?"

  Max shrugged.

  "I mean… if you don't want the king to find out about your little outings with your friend from town."

  The courtyard fell silent.

  Don blinked twice.

  "…I can't believe this," he finally said. "Is the royal pet bckmailing me?"

  "Technically," Max replied, "it's more of a preventative suggestion."

  Enor's eyes went wide.

  "Max!"

  "What?" he said, not looking at her. "I'm helping."

  Don brought a hand to his face and rubbed it slowly.

  "This is the worst thing that's happened to me since I took this job," he muttered.

  Then he looked at both of them.

  "Fine," he relented. "I'll do what I can to keep the king away from any news about today."

  Enor lifted her head, relieved.

  "Really…?"

  "But," Don added, raising a finger, "only until you gather the courage to do what's right."

  She swallowed.

  "What do you mean…?"

  "Face him," he said firmly. "Look him in the eyes. And tell him the truth. After all, he's your father."

  Enor pressed her lips together. She nodded slowly.

  "I will," she said. "I promise."

  Don studied her for a few more seconds. Then he sighed again, defeated.

  "Good. Go. Before someone asks where you were."

  He turned around and began to walk away.

  "And Max," he added without looking back. "Don't get used to it. It only works because I'm in a good mood today."

  Max smiled faintly.

  "Noted."

  Enor watched Don disappear down the side corridor. Then she turned to Max.

  "You didn't have to say that…"

  "Yes," he replied. "But it worked."

  She couldn't help but smile a little, even though worry still lingered in her eyes.

  "Still… we're in trouble."

  Max nodded.

  "Yeah. But for now… we got away with it."

  ***

  Enor adjusted her cloak over her shoulders and looked toward the corridor leading deeper into the castle.

  "If someone sees us like this…" she murmured. "I'm sure the questions will start."

  Max followed her gaze. In the distance, a couple of servants crossed the inner courtyard, carrying trays and rolls of fabric.

  "Let me try something," he said quietly.

  She frowned.

  "Try what…?"

  Max slid his thumb over the ring.

  [ Muted Silence Ring ] [ Effect Activated ]

  Then another message appeared.

  [ Skill Activated ] [ Effect Enhanced ]

  He expected the usual: muffled footsteps, voices slightly lower.

  He took a normal step. No sound.

  He took another, heavier step. Nothing.

  He looked down at the stone tiles. He struck them with his new boots. Absolute silence.

  "…E," he said. "Walk."

  "What…?" she whispered, armed. "Why can't I hear anything?"

  Max looked up just as one of the servants passed a few meters away from them. The man kept walking, without reacting.

  Max raised a hand and snapped his fingers.

  There was no sound.

  But Enor looked at him and smiled faintly.

  "I can hear you," she said. "But… it's like no one else can."

  Max swallowed.

  The silence wasn't a fixed area like the ring's effect said. It moved with him. An invisible space that completely enveloped them, isoting them from the rest of the castle.

  "Let's move," he said. "Before it stops working."

  They advanced down the side corridor. They passed a tall blue ceramic vase. Max, distracted, brushed it with his elbow.

  The vase fell.

  It shattered against the floor.

  Not a single sound.

  Enor froze.

  "…That should have been really loud."

  They kept walking.

  She told him how nervous she was about the event, about the suitors, about the looks judging her as if she were an item on dispy. Max replied with dry, ironic, but attentive comments.

  "Thank you for staying with me," Enor said when they reached the staircase leading to her chambers. "I didn't want to be alone right now."

  "That's what I'm here for," Max replied.

  She smiled at him.

  They entered her rooms. Max stopped near the door while she searched for more appropriate clothes for the event.

  The silence was still there.

  And Enor was now ready for the annual presentation of her new suitors.